Imagine being sent home early from school on Monday. Then imagine leaving home to find shelter from the fires engulfing your town. And then imagine yourself waking on Tuesday to find that you no longer have a home because it was consumed by fire. You own nothing but what you took with you as you hastily left for shelter.
More than 100 students and staff at the Pi Beta Phi Elementary School in Gatlinburg are living that reality. It’s 22 days before Christmas and this will be a different Christmas for them than any of the ones celebrated previously. If you can, please forgo giving one or two gifts and instead send a donation to the Pi Beta Phi PTA Student/Staff Fund, P.O. Box 4717, Sevierville, TN 37864.
Although the school is named for Pi Beta Phi, it is in no way connected to the Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women, save for the donation of the land upon which the school sits. The property was where the Pi Beta Phi Settlement School opened in Gatlinburg in 1912. Pi Beta Phi deeded the land to the school system and the original name has been maintained to honor the school’s history.
Dolly Parton grew up in Sevier County, the county in which Gatlinburg is located, and is one of its greatest champions. She and her Dollywood Foundation have set up “My People Fund.” In a video message she said, “We want to provide a hand up to all those families that have lost everything in the fires.” The Dollywood Foundation will provide $1,000 a month to the families who have lost their homes in the fires. “I know it has been a trying time for my people, and this assistance will help.”
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Thanks go to all of those who put their lives on the line to save people and property. I would bet the farm that the Sigma Chi in this picture was not to only fraternity man involved in the efforts. And notice that the men are napping on concrete, not the most comfortable of bedding. I, for one, and I know I am not alone in this, am grateful for your efforts and service.
© Fran Becque, www.fraternityhistory.com, 2016. All rights reserved. If you enjoyed this post, please sign up for updates. Also follow me on twitter @GLOHistory and Pinterest www.pinterest.com/glohistory/
