Indianapolis, July 17, 2025 – With sincere loyalty and a deep-rooted belief in the impact of sorority, Gayle Fitzpatrick has financially supported the Alpha Omicron Pi (AOII) Foundation for more than 30 years. Known for her powerhouse leadership, she consistently supports student leadership development, values-based programming and high-impact learning opportunities.
It is for her decades of generosity and enthusiastic leadership that Gayle has been recognized as the 2025 Outstanding Philanthropist. Her award will be presented on Tuesday, Aug. 26, during the Foundation for Fraternal Excellence Awards of Distinction Program, part of FFE Seminar.
“She has endowed a scholarship for sisters at Oregon State University, supported a significant technology upgrade for the Foundation’s donor management system and has said yes to countless other asks. In 2021, Gayle helped create a fund to support the Educational Leadership Consultant program, one of the most important programs for the Fraternity,” said Alpha Omicron Pi Foundation President Kath Conver.
Gayle is AOII’s first million-dollar donor. To recognize her transformational giving, the AOII Foundation established the Fitzpatrick Circle in 2021, honoring those who have made lifetime gifts of more than $1 million to the AOII Foundation. By reaching this significant giving milestone, she not only set a new standard but also inspired a framework that encourages others to follow her lead in impactful giving.
Also in 2021, during a time of global uncertainty, Gayle stepped forward with a leadership gift to launch the AOII Archives Campaign — an effort to preserve and celebrate the organization’s history. Her confidence in this vision was the spark that gave others the courage to follow, resulting in a successful capital campaign that will preserve AOII’s history for generations. Initially offering a $50,000 match, Gayle was thrilled to see the outpouring of support. Motivated by the collective response, she increased her match dollar-for-dollar, generating a total of $143,208. Her bold leadership through this match amplified donor participation and exemplified the power of challenge giving.
In addition to AOII, Gayle is a million-dollar donor to her alma mater, Oregon State University. She recently joined their Student Success Campaign Cabinet as a founding member to support their efforts to raise $500 million for students, as a part of the $1.75 billion Believe It campaign.
Oregon State University Vice President for Student Affairs Dan Larson shared, “What sets Gayle apart is her intentional generosity and leadership. Her strategic giving has amplified the reach of key initiatives on our campus, including the Center for Fraternity and Sorority Life, where her challenge gifts during Dam Proud Day—OSU’s Annual Day of Giving—have mobilized an entire community of donors to match her commitment.”
Gayle is a passionate advocate for the fraternal experience, and her philanthropic leadership extends far beyond financial contributions. She has served on AOII’s Foundation Board for twelve years, including two as president; on AOII’s Executive Board, including as International President for two terms; on AOII’s Properties Board; for twelve years as an OSU Foundation trustee; and presently serves on the Fraternity and Sorority Political Action Committee Board.
The Foundation for Fraternal Excellence is proud to present Gayle with the 2025 Outstanding Philanthropist Award and looks forward to celebrating her enduring commitment to funding high-impact initiatives within Alpha Omicron Pi and across higher education.
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ABOUT THE FOUNDATION FOR FRATERNAL EXCELLENCE
The Foundation for Fraternal Excellence (FFE) cultivates a culture of care, provides connections and supports research across the fraternal community. Often known as the “heart” of a fraternal organization, foundations and fundraising professionals come together to comprise membership and benefit from programs, services and resources for fraternal fundraising. FFE also provides operational support for established, new and emerging fraternal foundations and works hand-in-hand with several fraternal communities to strengthen and improve the entire fraternity/sorority experience.
