Sigma Alpha Iota

4 Winter 2024 • sai-national.org S usan Christopher serves as the current Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of SAI Philanthropies, Inc. and as Director of the People-to-People Project. In recognition of her service to Sigma Alpha Iota, she was recently honored in Albuquerque, NM as the Professional Fraternity Association's (PFA) Outstanding Volunteer of the Year. The Professional Fraternity Association has its origins in the 1920s, but was formally founded in 1978 when the Professional Interfraternity Conference (PIC) and the Professional Panhellenic Association (PPA) merged. Today, PFA supports the professional fraternity community by providing educational and professional development opportunities. Charitable organizations operated by PFA exist to support the professional, academic, and charitable goals of the member organizations. To date, PFA has initiated 2.1 million members into various professional fraternities in professional fields such as agriculture, business, engineering, law, medicine, the arts, pharmacy, and more. Sigma Alpha Iota is a long-time member of PFA, with SAI Executive Director Ruth Sieber Johnson having served as a past PFA President. The Outstanding Volunteer of the Year Award acknowledges an individual member of an affiliated PFA organization who has made exceptional commitments to their fraternity in the previous year. In her roles, Susan has dedicated her time and energy to expanding the reach of Sigma Alpha Iota Philanthropies, Inc. by organizing and overseeing a number of People-to-People projects. In the past year, Susan has brought used instruments to new homes through the Adopt-an- Instrument project and other individual member donations. When schools damaged by the 2022 Appalachian floods requested new instruments to replace those lost, Susan connected with SAI members in Kentucky to coordinate donations. Across the globe, People-to-People is helping to put instruments in the hands of students in both Uganda and Belize, with Susan at the forefront of both projects. In addition to her work coordinating numerous People-to-People projects, Susan also works to amplify the message and efforts of SAI Philanthropies, Inc. As Vice Chairman, Susan has worked to create easily accessible resources for People-to-People. Her online LinkTree of educational presentations, donations, and request forms make the project more easily accessible by members in need of support or members looking to support SAI Philanthropies, Inc. Bold Notes, the new SAI Philanthropies, Inc. newsletter, is another project which Susan oversees. In an effort to build a greater awareness of the mission and work of SAI Philanthropies Inc., Susan has also taken responsibility for managing its social media accounts. Of her leadership, Chairman of the Board of Directors of SAI Philanthropies, Inc., Tracey Wygal Withrow said, "Susan is an outstanding example of a volunteer, team member, and leader….I can truly say that Susan has made a lasting, positive impact on our musical world and the mission and work of Sigma Alpha Iota and SAI Philanthropies, Inc." Susan was honored for her continued commitment to Sigma Alpha Iota at the annual Professional Fraternity Association's banquet on September 9, 2023 in Albuquerque, NM. — Submitted by Bethany Tremblay-Price, SAI Philanthropies, Inc. Project Publications, Boston Alumnae member SAIs in e News Professional Fraternity Association Honors SAI Professional Fraternity Association Honors SAI

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