Board Directors

Community Awards and Programs of Service

The members of The Pearls of Distinction Foundation are committed to service efforts that seek to enrich and enhance the communities in which they live and work.

Community Organization Assistance Awardee 2021-2022

Each year, the Foundation recognizes a like-minded organization for its commitment to similar goals held by the Foundation. Organizations receive a financial contribution and certificate of appreciation. Additionally, sorority members partner with the organization in community service programs. For the years 2021-2022, two organizations were selected for their continued dedication to enhancing the lives of citizens in our community.

+ Chester County Opportunities Industrialization Center (CCOIC) has been a leader in our community since 1979, focused on improving the lives of diverse, economically disadvantaged adults by providing educational and training opportunities that lead to sustainable employment and financial independence for individuals and families. more info

+ Good Samaritan Services provides a full continuum of care to individuals and families experiencing homelessness, including, emergency shelters, residential housing, and housing support services. Additionally, participants are offered financial stability and personal development resources. more info

Community Service

+ Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service ~ The Pearls of Distinction Foundation provided financial support and worked with the members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Iota Tau Omega Chapter to promote the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the founders of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. by engaging in volunteer community service activities on this Day of Service. To commemorate this annual event, members actively participated in a variety of projects, helping to prepare and serve food, reading stories to little children, engaging in social justice discussions with our youth, registering volunteers, and collecting donated food items

Education

+ Women and Investing Workshop ~ Along with Nationwide Insurance and Iota Tau Omega Chapter, the Foundation sponsored a free financial workshop for women to share essential financial tools to help those beginning think about retirement and those seeking better ways to manage post retirement options.

Family Strengthening

+ Chester County Food Bank ~ The Foundation, in partnership with the Chapter, provides non-perishable food and gift cards to help alleviate hunger in our communities.

Health

+ The Foundation sponsored the “Pink Goes Red” Community Health Fair in Support of the American Heart Association’s efforts to promote good heart health. The event, presented in conjunction with Iota Tau Omega Chapter, Penn Medicine Chester County Hospital, and the health ministries of St. Paul’s Baptist Church, included guest speakers, blood pressure and BMI screenings, dental hygiene and nutritional information.

Environmental Ownership

**+ In an effort to promote environmentally safe, sound, and healthy communities, a healthy environment in our community, ITO and the Foundation partnered to cleanup and enhance a local community playground by planting flowers and shrubs, painting signs, and generally sprucing up the play area for our children.

Scholarship Program

The Foundation, in collaboration with Iota Tau Omega Chapter (ITO), annually awards scholarships to academically talented graduating high school seniors in Chester County and some surrounding areas and to continuing HBCU scholars at Lincoln University and Cheyney University. Over $350,000 in scholarships have been awarded to date.

The Foundation makes available awards on behalf of ITO and in the name of individuals who have served the chapter and the community:ITO Chapter General Academic Scholarships (Multiple Awards)
ITO Chapter STEM Scholarship
ITO Carol Butcher Scholarship
ITO Goldye Johnson HBCU Continuing Scholars Awards (Cheyney University and Lincoln University)

Chapter Scholarships are awarded to graduating high school seniors who have maintained a minimum 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale, and who have demonstrated involvement in community service programs.

The Carol J. Butcher Memorial Scholarship is awarded to students who have maintained a minimum 2.7 grade point average on a 4.0 scale, who declare a major in Accounting, Business, Economics, Finance, or a related field, and who have demonstrated community service involvement.

STEM Scholarship Awards are granted to students have maintained a minimum grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, declare a major in one of the STEM fields, and have demonstrated community service involvement.

HBCU Continuing Education Book Awards are granted to (one each) to students currently attending Cheyney University and Lincoln University who are in good academic standing at their respective university.

Application Process

(2024 Scholarship Application)EXTENDED APPLICATION DEADLINE: April 30, 2024
Applications must be received by April 30, 2024Please download, complete and return the application fully as per the included instructions.

Salute to our 2023 Scholarship Recipients

Continuing Education HBCU Book Awards

Mackenzie Hanks
Lincoln UniversitySaniyyah Coley
Cheyney University+

The Carol Butcher Award

Alana Smith
Coatesville Sr. High - School Penn State University+

General Scholarships

Kaia Hall
Avon Grove Charter High School - Spelman CollegeNequese Lewis
B. Reed Henderson H. S. - West Chester UniversityKamsi Ozoigbo
B. Reed Henderson H. S - Penn State UniversitySanaii Townes
Philadelphia High School for Girls - North Carolina AT&TAthaiah Wallace
B. Reed Henderson - Kutztown University

• Make A Donation

Your Support is Vital to Our Success!

The Pearls of Distinction Foundation succeeds through the generosity of friends, corporate and community partners, and sponsors such as you. Your generous contribution make it possible for PODF to positively impact the community through its Programs of Service platform.There are many options available to support the work of the Pearls of Distinction Foundation, Inc. to sustain our scholarship and community service programs.

Individual Donations
Individuals are our biggest supporters. Your tax deductible donation helps us to be of service to all mankind.

Corporate Giving
Forming a strategic partnership with the Pearls of Distinction Foundation, Inc. is an ideal pathway for your company to achieve its philanthropic goals. Contact the Foundation to learn more about the benefits of corporate giving or to learn more about the Foundation.

Matching Gifts
Company matching gifts can double your donations to the Pearls of Distinction Foundation, Inc. Check with your company’s charitable foundation or Human Resources Department to determine if this is an option and to obtain the required documentation.

Gifts in Honor or Memorial
You can share the gift of giving if you choose to make a tax-deductible contribution in honor or memory of a loved one, friend, or co-worker. Once you provide the name and address of the person, your honoree will receive a special notification from the PODF, letting him/her know that you have made a gift in his/her name. Your gift made in someone’s memory will be acknowledged to the name and address of the individual(s), family, organization, or friends you indicate.

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