Continuing Her Legacy: Forget Me Not for Sixty Plus Seniors Fund

Reflecting on her Alpha Phi experience, Nancy wondered if she could help Alpha Phis like her. In the Spring of 2025, she established the Forget Me Not for Sixty Plus Seniors Fund.

Walking into her Alpha Phi experience at the University of Washington, Nancy Andrews Benson (Sigma- Washington, PC’60)  was excited to share our sisterhood with her mother, Betty King (Gamma- DePauw). Nancy’s favorite memories include the sleeping porches at the Sigma house, curfew, singing many songs, and lifelong friendships.

Nancy is now retired in beautiful Tempe, Arizona, living yards away from the Gamma Pi house at Arizona State University. She happily discovered her neighbor, Bonnie Wright (Beta Epsilon- Arizona), is an Alpha Phi sister. Betty is a photographer and retired philanthropic consultant who led an outstanding career in fund development. Nancy and Bonnie often share their Alpha Phi memories over pastries and iced tea in the café in their building.

In a new stage of life, Nancy reconnected with our sisterhood. The ideal of helping sisters when they need it the most was a principle within our sisterhood which Nancy found invaluable. Reflecting on her Alpha Phi experience, Nancy wondered if she could help Alpha Phis like her. In the Spring of 2025, Nancy established the Forget Me Not for Sixty Plus Seniors Fund through an immediate gift and lovely estate gift, granting her membership to Clara Bradley Burdette Society.

Through the Forget Me Not for Sixty Plus Seniors Fund, this endowed fund will perpetually benefit sisters who are at least sixty years of age and in need of emergency grant assistance. Seniors often face additional financial challenges due to the loss of a spouse, declining health, or inability to work.

Thank you, Nancy, for continuing your family’s Alpha Phi legacy through the Alpha Phi Foundation.

Forget Me Not grants emergency assistance to sisters facing unprecedented crisis. This past year, the Foundation granted a record number of Forget Me Nots related to natural disasters. The average Forget Me Not Award was $2,000 and application numbers rivaled those of 2020 during the pandemic. Alpha Phi Foundation is proudly prepared to face the growing needs facing the women in our sisterhood.

Your collegiate experience is the briefest part of your membership. Endless opportunities lie within your alumnae experience, including giving back through philanthropy, encouraging leadership roles, and volunteering at the collegiate, national, and local level.

Thank you, Nancy, for reminding us of our lifelong sisterhood and the endless possibilities that continue to empower us.

Due to Nancy’s incredible thoughtfulness and generosity, the Forget Me Not for Sixty Plus Seniors Fund is a beautiful reminder that our sisterhood ready and available to support sisters in all stages of life.

Make a gift to Forget Me Not or the FMN for Sixty Plus Seniors Fund

Click here to apply for an assistance grant for yourself or on behalf of a sister.

Interested in leaving your legacy with Alpha Phi Foundation through an endowment or planned gift? Please contact Charlotte Farrar, Major Gifts Officer, cfarrar@alphaphifoundation.org.