Matt Howell of Ohio Epsilon at the University of Akron was identified by his chapter as a main driver behind the chapter’s effort to raise $10,914 and become an Iron Phi Chapter for the third consecutive year and seventh time overall. A past Kleberg Emerging Leaders Institute attendee, Whole Man Scholar, and graduate of the Shaffer Honors College of Leadership, Brother Howell also applied his leadership to help Ohio Epsilon raise an additional $12,572 for Live Like Lou during the 2023-24 school year through the chapter’s philanthropy events, earning the Triple Crown Award.
In this feature, Brother Howell shares insights from his Iron Phi experience that helped him lead his chapter to success.
What Phi Delt chapter officer positions have you held?
Philanthropy chairman, secretary
Approximately what percentage of your chapter was engaged with Iron Phi this past year?
20%
What specific tactics did you use to motivate others to register for Iron Phi and begin their effort?
Our biggest breakthrough when it came to achieving Iron Phi status was implementing Iron Phi workshops, which helped many brothers create momentum for their fundraising efforts. Once this spark was ignited, many brothers took it upon themselves to follow through on their efforts, becoming not only Iron Phis, but also great examples to other brothers interested in taking on the challenge.
For the individuals who had the most Iron Phi success, what common things did you see them do?
Persistence was by far the biggest factor in brothers becoming Iron Phis, both in athletic challenges and fundraising. Those who continued to push the envelope and boost their initial momentum through consistent fundraising outreach and event training saw great success in their efforts.
What other chapter benefits did you see that may have stemmed from a number of people succeeding with Iron Phi?
Iron Phi served as a great way for brothers who may have been less involved to do something for their Fraternity in a bit more of a non-traditional way. Many of these brothers, seeing the benefits of being more involved, have been more active and some have even stepped up into leadership positions. The program not only helps others, but it also shows brothers how big of an impact they can have through their own efforts, which motivates them to do more than they ever would have before.
What would you tell individuals or chapters who are worried about the fundraising component of becoming an Iron Phi or Iron Phi Chapter?
While motivating an entire chapter to take on the Iron Phi challenge can be daunting, it is important to remember that small wins can lead to large victories. Starting with a few highly motivated individuals is a great way to get the ball rolling, as these brothers, realizing the impact of the challenge, will assist you in pushing other brothers to give it a swing. By building out a network of Iron Phis, you can more easily encourage the chapter as a whole to take up the challenge.
What has surprised you most about your chapter’s Iron Phi success?
The support we receive from family, friends, and alumni is always extraordinarily encouraging. Whether its giving to the Iron Phi cause or pushing us to be the greatest versions of ourselves, our support network has continually pushed us to exceed our own expectations and achieve our goals.
What personal lessons have you learned from your Iron Phi experience?
Though the effort is individual on paper, I learned that neither the fundraising nor athletic challenge is done alone. Whether it was family, friends, colleagues, or other brothers, I always found someone to push me further. I have continued to utilize this network since my Iron Phi campaign, and I can definitively say that it has put me leaps and bounds ahead of where I would have been had I tried to do things alone.
If members from your chapter have served an ALS family, what benefits have you seen from this service?
While going out and doing something such as yard work for someone may seem insignificant to many, it can mean the world to ALS patients and their families who don’t have the time or energy to devote to such menial tasks. Removing these burdens from their lives gives them more time to spend with one another and has shown our brothers that we can’t take the little things in life for granted.
To become an Iron Phi, visit www.ironphi.org to begin your journey.
