Alpha Epsilon Phi - The Ohio State University

Rho Chapter Strand of Pearls ll her life, Betty Frank Schoenbaum '38 has been a philanthropist. She and her late husband, Alex, have left their marks on organizations across the globe, on The Ohio State University, and on others. At 99 years old, Betty will tell you that she has lived the most wonderful life, and if you're lucky, she may even give you a famous "Betty hug." Five years ago, Betty started hugging anyone she thought may need it. She uses her hugs as a form of communication—to thank a stranger for opening the door for her, to cheer someone up, and mostly, to share love. She credits her confidence in communication to her time in Alpha Epsilon Phi, as this is where she first discovered she could be a leader and influence others to follow. Aside from hugs, Betty also communicates her motto, "The joy of giving is the joy of living," through large-audience talks. "I love to influence people to give. Anything you can do to make someone's life better is a form of communication," she said. "I've seen the hatred in the world, and we have to pass love along. That's why I started the Betty hug. Heart-to-heart, arms wrapped around each other, we hug. It's truly a love hug." Betty loves to see the good that comes from her giving. Throughout the years, she has donated her time and money to countless organizations, funded scholarships for undergraduates, created the Schoenbaum Family Center at Weinland Park, and helped develop a multipurpose science, education, culture, and sports campus in Kiryat Yam, Israel. Additionally, the undergraduate school of business at Ohio State is named Schoenbaum Hall, thanks to Alex's philanthropic and athletic contributions to the university. "The joy of giving is the joy of living, and I'm not talking about money, per se. It's the joy of doing things for others," Betty said. "It's good for the soul and is something you have that nobody can take away from you." Looking back on her time in Rho Chapter, Betty remembers her four wonderful years at Ohio State. She loved living in the chapter house and the ability to talk with her sisters at all times. She's so proud to be a member that each year when she attends an Alpha Epsilon Phi reunion she brags about Rho Chapter and all the women in it. Betty donates to the chapter to show her gratitude for the memories she has made throughout the years. "I am truly blessed to have lived the most wonderful life. I love the joy of giving and seeing what good my money has done," she said. "I give for the thrill of giving. I don't do it for the praise. I simply love knowing how people are benefitting from my giving." Today, Betty serves on a variety of boards and spends her time with family and friends, attending lectures, and doing various senior activities in Sarasota, Florida. She is originally from Dayton, Ohio, and has 27 direct family members, including four children and eight grandchildren. "I am the most blessed woman in this world and my time in Alpha Epsilon Phi helped make it that way," she said. Betty can be reached at schobee1@verizon.net. The Joy of Giving Is the Joy of Living Alumna Dedicates Her Life to Helping Others Thank You, Loyal Alumnae Betty Frank Schoenbaum '36 Bonnie Cramer Klein '54 Sylvia Schottenstein Heyman '57 Loramae Weiland Simkoff '57 Terri Gersman Gordon '79 Andrea Cronig Mindell '79 Karen Mellman-Smith '81 Trudy Saltzman Stearns '81 Denise Smucker Nielsen '82 Teri Newman '85 Sara Fine '98 e wish to extend our gratitude to the alumnae who have chosen to support Alpha Epsilon Phi. Your gifts make it possible for our undergraduates to reside in a safe and comfortable home while remaining competitive at The Ohio State University. The following is a list of alumnae who gave to our summer 2016 appeal. Thank you for your support!

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