By: Nicholas Velianoff, UIC ’03

Honestly, I wasn’t really interested in the fraternities I saw on the University of Illinois – Chicago campus when I started college.

That changed when I met Marc and Tim, two advisors from Illinois Zeta. I talked to them and instantly knew that theirs was the organization I needed to be part of.

That organization became the Illinois Theta Chapter of Phi Kappa Psi.

Immediately I saw an opportunity to help start the chapter and form it into the type of brotherhood I was looking for. I loved the brotherhood’s “great joy of serving others” motto, as well as the Fraternity’s passion for philanthropy.

Today, 13 years after graduation, I still credit my fraternity experience with imparting a great many leadership skills on me and creating endless opportunities in my professional career. Were it not for Phi Psi, I would’ve never met my wife or my lifelong friends, or gotten my job with Nalco Water and become the man I am today.

I recently decided it was time to put my gratitude into action by setting up a monthly recurring donation to the Foundation.

With my gift, I hope to give the young men joining Phi Psi today access to the best leadership training possible, through funding our endowment that provides and pays for so many educational and leadership-based programs.

The man that I have become today is a direct result of being in Phi Kappa Psi. The least I can do is give back a small portion of money to help provide this same experience for current and future brothers.

Inspired by Nicholas’s story? Set up a recurring gift today to ensure the future of Phi Kappa Psi.