In fall 2012, Hurricane Sandy caused destruction along the entire Eastern seaboard, from Florida to Maine. The hurricane destroyed thousands of homes and caused millions of dollars in destruction. One of the sisters impacted by Hurricane Sandy was New York Epsilon Amanda Lambros.

Amanda is from Breezy Point, New York, located on Long Island between Queens and Brooklyn. As the storm approached, her parents chose not to evacuate. And after the storm, there was complete destruction – their house and the entire community were destroyed. At the time, it was Amanda’s senior year at Rennselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) and she was only two and a half hours north, but very little damage occurred there. “How could this happen?” Amanda lamented. It was so difficult to grasp.

As her parents tried to rebuild their lives and their family home, the financial burden of paying for Amanda’s school became an issue. Her tuition payments for her senior year were due and she could not register for her last semester of classes without payment. She was then directed to Pi Beta Phi Foundation, which awards grants to collegians and alumnae in need. She received support through the Emma Harper Turner Fund, which grants financial assistance on a confidential basis to alumnae and collegians in dire financial need.

Her Alumnae Advisory Committee Chairman and members of the chapter were all eager to write a recommendation for Amanda, in the hopes she would receive a grant. After applying, Amanda was overjoyed to learn she would receive a grant that would help her through her final semester of school.

Amanda is eternally grateful for the grant from Pi Beta Phi Foundation and for the sisters that supported her through that difficult time in her life. The sincere friendship she felt during her time of need encouraged Amanda to remain involved in Pi Phi ever since. Once she moved to Connecticut, she became Connecticut Beta’s Chapter House Corporation President and has been active in the New Haven Alumnae Club. She is also looking forward to participating in Fraternity Day of Service this February.

 

The Foundation can provide emergency Emma Harper Turner (EHT) Fund grants to members in need. If you or a sister are in need, visit Emma Harper Turner Fund for more information.