The Board of 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.

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.

+ 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 Pearls of Distinction Foundation, Inc., in collaboration with Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated® Iota Tau Omega Chapter of Chester County, Pennsylvania, is proud to offer college scholarships to 2025 high school graduates from Chester County and surrounding areas.At the heart of our mission is the belief in empowering young scholars through education, leadership, and service. The Pearls of Distinction Foundation, established in 2015 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is dedicated to supporting programs and initiatives in education, health, family strengthening, and more. In partnership with the Iota Tau Omega Chapter, which has served the Chester County community for over 50 years, we are committed to making a meaningful difference in the lives of students and their families.
.The selected students must meet the following eligibility criteria:

2025 Scholarship Application

APPLICATION DEADLINE: April 4, 2025Please fully complete the online application.

• Online Application

These are our 2024 Scholarship Recipients pictured.

Also in 2024 the following 2 scholarships were awarded:

The Jackson/Newell Scholarship at Cheyney UniversityThe Goldye Johnson Scholarship at Lincoln University

Stay tuned for event updates!

In the meantime, please feel free to donate using the DONATE button below. A donation of any size is greatly appreciated.

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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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(plus a $2.80 convenience fee)Proceeds benefit the Foundation's scholarship & community service projects

2017 Souvenir Journal Form

(Ad Space Available)By taking an ad in our souvenir journal, your business/organization will benefit from prime exposure at our event. Please refer to the attached Journal Ad Form to view your ad options.