This summer during the Phi Mu Foundation Annual Meeting, we recognized two incredible collegiate members – Jehme Pruitt (Alabama) and Daryn Polzin (Oklahoma City) – with the 2022 Pollack Award for philanthropy leadership in their chapters, on their campuses, and in their communities.

The Pollack Award was established in December 1979 with a gift to Phi Mu Foundation from Gerald and Sheldon Pollack of the J.O. Pollack Company. This award is presented to individuals who excel in social service leadership. Collegians are nominated for this award and receive $1,000 for first place and $500 for second place. Here’s a glance at this year’s winners:

Nominated by her chapter president, Jehme Pruitt is the first-place recipient of the Gerald and Sheldon Pollack Award. She serves as her chapter’s Philanthropy Chair and has helped plan and raise over $100,000 for CMN Hospitals through events such as Raising Dough, Bonnamu and Miracle Week.

Jehme understands the importance of not only raising money for philanthropies, but also for her and her sisters to give hope, love, and joy to those they are serving. Her chapter sisters say her keynote phrase is, “Philanthropy is not just about writing a check to make you feel good and then never looking back. It is about being steadfast, loyal, brave, and hopeful. It is about your continuing efforts to serve and find the passion and joy of serving others. You are genuinely making a positive and necessary difference in someone else’s life. It is about giving people what they need and being dutiful”.

The Gerald and Sheldon Pollack Award Honorable Mention was awarded to Daryn Polzin. Daryn recently wrapped up a year of service on the Phi Mu Foundation Leadership Council, is the director of Dance Marathon on her campus and serves her chapter as Philanthropy Chair and now chapter president. In addition to serving her chapter and campus philanthropies, she also started her own 501C3 non-profit organization, “Making Miracles for Kids,” which works to start Dance Marathons at the high school level.

Daryn led her chapter to support the Foundation’s M3 Campaign at 100%, including writing more than 200 emails to alumnae to help support her chapter’s fundraising efforts. She has also worked to have her chapter help charities internationally by adopting 25 Afghani refugee families, along with a local nonprofit, to ensure they had essentials such as food, clothing, water and toys.