Pi Beta Phi - Texas A&M University

Why Sally Gave "The chapter house was brand new when I pledged, and I felt grateful to live there. When I read about the campaign to raise funds for the house, I was thrilled to participate. I felt passionately that the new generation of Pi Phis should be able to experience the house in the way I did so many years ago." Texas A&M University PAGE 3 I was first introduced to Pi Phi through my sister, Jill Crum Dabney '86. I heard about her Texas Eta experiences while I was still in high school and looked forward to the day I could join. Jill was a senior when I was a new member, and having my actual sister also be my sister in Pi Phi meant a lot to us both and is something I will always cherish. Texas Eta Chapter was a welcoming and warm place where I found a home and community. That sense of belonging is critical for any undergraduate, especially at a university as large as Texas A&M. I was proud to be a Pi Phi and to learn the joy and importance of community service and philanthropy, which has influenced me throughout my career. After I earned a bachelor's degree in microbiology, I began my career in laboratory and process control instrumentation. There was a real need in Houston for folks with a strong background in chemistry, making it a great fit for me and something I truly enjoyed. Every day in process control brought new challenges and discoveries. Being a Texas Eta and an Aggie gave me a confidence I wouldn't have otherwise had in my professional and personal life. Pi Phi also introduced me to the importance of community service and philanthropy, which has informed my present work in the non- profit sector. Our family foundation, founded in 2018, focuses mainly on equity in education and healthcare. We have supported initiatives in education at the rural level, offering college scholarships to the graduating class of Gladewater ISD, where my husband attended. In honor of my husband's experience, we also fund first-generation scholarships at Texas A&M. We also serve in the field of public health equity initiatives. With UCSD, we worked on a healthcare equity project in San Diego during the pandemic. We partnered with TAMU this year on climate projects in agriculture. We support local food banks and groups who serve the homeless and drug recovery communities in San Diego, as well as groups working to assist those in rebuilding their lives after being trafficked. In addition, we are passionate about supporting healthcare research where we help groups who work on funding late-stage clinical research in cancer drug development in the San Diego area. My husband and I moved to San Diego, California, in 1998 and have been here ever since. One of our daughters graduated from Purdue and Imperial College of London and the other is currently in college at Loyola Marymount University. In my spare time, I love to travel and spend time with family and friends hiking, paddleboarding, boating, mountain biking and snow skiing. We also have a Rhodesian ridgeback dog, Ivy, who keeps us busy! If you'd like to get in touch, send me an email at sally@jshood.org. In Pi Phi, Sally Crum Hood '89 "I credit Pi Phi for educating me about the vital importance of philanthropy and learning that everyone can make an impact." SALLY CRUM HOOD '89 TALKS CHEMISTRY, PHILANTHROPY AND FAMILY A Heart to Serve See More from Our New Members on Page 5! "Pi Beta Phi at Texas A&M is an incredible sisterhood that fosters lifelong friendships and personal growth! Their commitment to philanthropy, academic excellence and leadership truly sets them apart on campus. Everyone has been welcoming, kind and supportive to the New Member Class, and I'm excited to get to know everyone better!" –Lola McCann "I have absolutely loved becoming a Pi Phi! Even though it's only been a few weeks, I've met so many genuine people, and I feel at home with my new sisters. I know I can ask them for anything and adore doing even the simplest things, like going for ice cream, because I get to make new connections with the most amazing group of people!" –Caitlyn Blazejewski

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