The Foundation for Fraternal Excellence (FFE) annually recognizes the accomplishments, contributions and influence of individuals who have made a difference in interfraternal fundraising through their Awards of Distinction program. This year, an alumnus of Pi Kappa Phi has been recognized.
Kelley A. Bergstrom, Alpha Omicron (Iowa State), was awarded FFE’s 2024 Outstanding Philanthropist Award. According to FFE, “This award is presented to an individual or family with a proven record of exceptional generosity who, through direct financial support, has demonstrated outstanding fraternal and charitable responsibility, and whose generosity encourages others to take philanthropic leadership roles within the Greek community on a national and/or international level.”
Since his initiation in 1961, Bergstrom has been instrumental in Pi Kappa Phi’s success. Among his numerous contributions, he generously provided the lead gift for Pi Kappa Phi’s headquarters campaign in 2008, providing a new home for the Fraternity, now named the Kelley A. Bergstrom Leadership Center in his honor. Aside from financial gifts, he has generously given his time and talent to undergraduate members through his years of service to the Alpha Omicron Chapter housing board. In addition to fulfilling his responsibilities on the board, he goes out of his way to inform students about the Foundation’s various resources that they otherwise might be unaware of. He encourages students to take advantage of leadership and educational programming, as well as scholarships offered by the Foundation, all resources his gifts have helped fund.
His generosity extends outside Pi Kappa Phi, as evidenced by his service to both his alma maters. At Iowa State, he endowed a scholarship fund that annually provides tuition assistance to 24 first-generation undergraduate students, exemplifying the importance he places on higher education and providing unlikely students with uncommon opportunities. At the University of Florida, he established a major endowment that supports the real estate center, now named in his honor.
One of his nominators, Pi Kappa Phi Foundation Chairman and Alpha Iota (Auburn) alumnus J. Ernest Johnson wrote, “While his generosity financially was more than enough, Bergstrom is not one to sign a check and consider himself done; he is eager and willing to be involved in a volunteer capacity. While we often consider philanthropy to be related to financial gifts, at its core, it is the desire to promote the welfare of others, regardless of how this is achieved. As a volunteer, he has always focused on how his work relates to the greater mission and vision of each entity and the Fraternity. He thinks strategically, welcomes collaboration and always puts the progress of the organization before any personal agenda. He is the sort of volunteer that any organization would be lucky to have.”
Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity and the Pi Kappa Phi Foundation are proud of Bergstrom’s achievements and congratulate him on being awarded FFE’s 2024 Outstanding Philanthropist Award.
More information regarding the FFE Awards of Distinction program as well as this year’s recipients can be found by visiting the FFE website.