Philanthropy

Serving the world around us is one of AOII’s founding principles.

Arthritis and the Arthritis Foundation

While local chapters are encouraged to support philanthropic opportunities in their communities, all chapters support AOII’s international philanthropy, which is arthritis. Since 1967, the Fraternity has enjoyed an important partnership with the Arthritis Foundation. Dollars donated to the Arthritis Foundation support arthritis research, Juvenile Arthritis Power Packs, Juvenile Arthritis Camps and Conferences and so much more.

National Arthritis Event Support

AOII chapters and members provide volunteer hours and dollars to two Arthritis
Foundation national events each year, Walk to Cure Arthritis (WTCA) in the spring, and
the festive Jingle Bell Run (JBR) in November/December.

Promoting Arthritis Awareness

AOII’s promotional campaign for arthritis awareness is known as “AOII Goes Blue.” With blue being the international awareness color for arthritis, this fun initiative inspires local chapter creativity in dozens of ways and helps spread the message of AOII’s commitment to help find a cure for arthritis. The Fraternity celebrates AOII Goes Blue officially on World Arthritis Day, October 12th, each year.

AOII’s Signature Arthritis Events

AOII’s signature philanthropy events on college campuses and in alumnae communities are known as “Strike Out Arthritis!” events. These fun local events might feature softball, baseball, volleyball or bowling tournaments, 5K Runs or other creative variations on the theme.

Strike Out Arthritis! and Major League Baseball

Thanks to strong relationships between the Fraternity and all Major League Baseball Teams, fundraising events are held every year at ballparks throughout North America. The opportunity for a sisterhood event coupled with a fundraiser from ticket sales benefits both the Arthritis Foundation and AOII.

The Panda Bear People

AOII members donate hundreds of stuffed panda bears each year, which are provided to children attending the two Juvenile Arthritis Conferences. Thanks to this long-time beloved tradition, AOII has become known as the Panda People to thousands of arthritis families across the world.

The Arthritis Society (of Canada)

Canada’s Arthritis Society is the primary recipient of dollars raised by our AOII Canadian sisters. The Arthritis Society actively champions the needs of Canadians affected by arthritis, capturing the attention of decision-makers at both the Federal and Provincial levels to drive positive policy changes and increase awareness and understanding of arthritis in Canada.

Sisters for Soldiers

Outside of arthritis, another popular philanthropy opportunity provided by the Fraternity is Sisters for Soldiers. This project supports service men and women overseas through the collection of specified items along with handwritten heartwarming letters.

Circle of Sisterhood

ONE WORLD. ONE SISTERHOOD.®

Alpha Omicron Pi is a proud sponsor of the Circle of Sisterhood. The Circle of Sisterhood’s mission is to leverage the collective influence of sorority women to raise financial resources for entities around the world that are removing educational barriers for girls and women facing poverty and oppression.

The Circle of Sisterhood Foundation is a mechanism by which all sorority women can stand together across affiliation, age, color, and creed to make a difference in the lives of millions of girls and women around the world. Collectively, we are one of the largest communities of college-education women in the world while not even seven percent of the world – men and women combined – has college degrees, and two thirds of all illiterate adults are women. Standing together as one community, we will give girls and women an equal chance for rewarding lives and livelihoods through schooling, the learning of a trade, or even a college degree.