Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., is an international organization comprised of 150,000 college-educated men, and built primarily on the ideology of promoting Brotherhood, Scholarship and Service. Over its one hundred plus years of existence, the Fraternity has focused on improving the global community through dedicated service. This focus has compelled the development of the organization’s four main programs: Bigger and Better Business, Education, Social Action and Sigma Beta Clubs that embrace these objectives:
Through the lens of these programs, members determine how best they can serve their respective communities. For example, our national mentoring program for males ages 8-18 provides for the development of young men as they prepare for college and the workforce. The organization’s partnerships with the American Cancer Society, March of Dimes, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Boy Scouts of America and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund are examples of its efforts to address societal ills including health disparities and educational and developmental challenges for people of all backgrounds.
Bigger and Better Business became the first national program of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity. It was first introduced at the Tenth Anniversary Conclave, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (December 1924). When Bigger and Better Business was adopted as a national program, special emphasis was placed on encouraging and promoting Negro businesses. At its inception, the program sought to encourage Negro businesses to improve their business acumen, efficiency and service to the public, to be competitive with other businesses.
In the early 1950s, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity became the first Greek organization to develop a youth auxiliary group. Under the direction of Dr. Parlett L. Moore (pictured) the Sigma Beta Club was founded. While as National Director of Education, Brother Moore was concerned about our changing needs in our communities and recognized the important role that Sigma men could play in the lives of our youth.
On April 23, 1954, the first Sigma Beta Club was organized in Montgomery, AL. Throughout its existence, Sigma Beta Clubs have been an essential part of the total organizational structure of many of the Alumni chapters of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and offers men of Sigma a unique opportunity to develop wholesome value, leadership skills, and social and cultural awareness of youth at a most critical stage in the youth’s personal development.
The Education program developed from the Fraternity’s traditional emphasis on education academic achievement as an ingredient for success. During the 1945 Conclave in St. Louis, Missouri, the Fraternity engaged in a restructuring of its programming, leading to the birth of Education as an International program. The program focuses on providing a variety of services to alumni and collegiate members of the Fraternity, which in turn translates to services to local communities. In-house programs include providing scholarships, conferences, college fairs, mentoring and tutoring at local, regional and national levels.
Formed in 1934, the Social Action program was conceived by Bro. Elmo M. Anderson to focus on improving the general wellbeing of disenfranchised people. The mission of the International Social Action Program is to encourage social, political and philanthropic leadership which strengthens our respective communities and our membership by:
The Brothers of Phi Beta Sigma are the Fraternity’s most valuable resource and strength. They are the primary means by which the Phi Beta Sigma objectives will be achieved. In order to accomplish the Fraternity’s objectives, it is essential that systems are instituted that effectively embody “Culture For Service and Service For Humanity” and promote brotherhood, scholarship and service.