Sign of the Arrow Awards Grants to Fourteen

Fourteen local philanthropic organizations received grants at the Sign of the Arrow Philanthropy Brunch which was held at Ladue Chapel in Ladue.

Agencies represented ranged in category, and included, educational services, health services, cultural agencies, domestic and sexual violence agencies, mental health agencies, and special needs.

“We usually try to focus on women’s and children’s programs, but we don’t have a strict structure that says we are only able to fund a certain type of organization. We support the disadvantaged and advantaged,” said Julie Filean, General Manager of Sign of the Arrow.

Since its inception in 1966, Sign of the Arrow, an arm of the St. Louis Alumnae Club of Pi Beta Phi, has made financial awards in excess of 3.3 million to over 150 local charities. Sign of the Arrow, a needlepoint and gift store, was created to raise funds for philanthropic efforts. Grants awarded are the culmination of many hours of hard work by volunteers at Signs of the Arrow, and the pouring over of numerous grant requests by the Philanthropy Committee.

The 2011 recipients of Sign of the Arrow grants followed specific guidelines for eligibility. Each charity and organization must have been sponsored by one of the 90+ volunteers who gave more than 18,000 hours annually to Sign of the Arrow. Agencies cannot nominate themselves. After sponsorship, they were required to submit a grant request stating the dollar amount needed and the intended use of the funds. The Philanthropy Committee selected grant recipients based on this and a number of other criteria.

Recipients are allowed to receive funds only three times during a five year period. This ensures more organizations can receive funding. Chairman of the Philanthropy Committee, Holly Thomas said the funds are distributed to as many organizations as possible based on indicated need and available funds.

“It’s not always easy to decide. The grants were less this year than in years past,” said Thomas.

Thomas is a second generation Pi Beta Phi. She recalled seeing her mother’s volunteer schedule for Sign of the Arrow listed on the family calendar when she was a young girl. Her involvement has come full circle.

Grants are funded entirely by proceeds raised from the Sign of the Arrow store which is staffed almost entirely by community volunteers. Volunteers do everything, including buying the products that are sold in the shop, cashiering, and teaching needlepoint classes.

It takes many volunteers just to buy goods that are sold. “Some of my thread buyers buy only one particular thread, because it is an enormous product line with approximately 200 colors,” Said Filean. According to Filean, the number hours their volunteers give varies, as do the jobs they are assigned. “It keeps the jobs manageable so that someone with a small amount of time can have a small responsibility,” she said.

Sign of the Arrow is a premier shopping destination for needlepoint, unique gift items, accessories, cards and paper goods, holiday decorations, sorority gifts, photo frames, and so much more.

Filean said, “It is not just a needlepoint shop. We are really known throughout the country for needlepoint. We have people contact us from other parts of the U.S. to order things, to send us stuff for refinishing or to inquire about information about needlepoint. But we have so much more.”

Their services include mail order, finishing, stitching, monogramming, blocking, custom painting and assistance in fiber and fabric selection. Classes are offered to all ages and abilities and are held on Sign of the Arrow premises.

Patch previously ran an article on . Click on link to read more.

2011 Grant Recipients:

Bel Canto Chorus

Care & Counseling

Delta Gamma Center

Episcopal City Mission

Gateway to Hope

Gifted Resource Council

Holy Trinity Catholic School

Lift for Life Academy

Nurses for Newborns

Opera Theatre of St. Louis

Pi Beta Phi Foundation

Safe Connections

Special Education Foundation

St. Louis Panhellenic Association

Download the movie

Download the movie

Download the movie