For many years the Cedar Rapids Pi Beta Phi Alumnae Club supported local literary programs through donations of 500 children's books from First Book, which were presented to United Way of East Central Iowa.The books were awarded to the first 100 chapters or clubs who applied for the opportunity, and thanks to our Gail Kennedy, our Philanthropy / Literacy Chair, we were one of the 100 selected!United Way used 100+ of the books at a kick off event on March 12, 2015. Our contact at United Way, Laura Columbus said "We are planning to use 100+_ of the books for our kick off event" on March 12, 2015. "They will be the 'center piece' on the tables, then the attendees will be invited to take them home to their children and/or donate them to the charity of their choose to promote young children reading!"The rest of the books will be part of the "Reading into Success: The Campaign for Grade Level Reading" to help increase the number of children reading proficiently by the end of the third grade.​​Catherine McAuley CenterThe Catherine McAuley Center founded by the Sisters of Mercy, fosters the wellbeing and dignity of individuals in need by promoting basic education for adults and transitional housing for women.​​Madge Phillips Center – WaypointWaypoint provides a homeless shelter in Cedar Rapids offering women and their children secure housing and stabilizing resources. It’s called the Madge Phillips Center and helps those in crisis rebuild their lives.​This center was named in honor of our Pi Phi sister Madge Phillips.​​