Kappa Kappa Gamma and Pi Beta Phi Give Back to Breakthrough

The Co-Chairs and Board of Directors of Design Inspirations presented Breakthrough Fort Worth with a gift of $92,500 following a record-breaking fundraising event. Gill Children’s Services also received the same amount. The Design Inspirations event, which started 30 years ago, is a fundraiser supported jointly by volunteers from the Fort Worth Alumnae Associations of Kappa Kappa Gamma and Pi Beta Phi. This year’s event featured guest speaker and interior designer, Katie Ridder, and showcased more than 64 tablescapes, creatively designed by local interior designers, businesses and individuals. FWCD and Breakthrough had tables at the event, which was featured on NBC 5’s Tell Me Something Good on May 15. 

“We are grateful to our Design Inspirations patrons and benefactors who supported our Pearl Anniversary event, just as they have for the past 30 years,” said Paige Pate, Design Inspirations Board Chair. “Thanks to them and to our incredible Kappa Kappa Gamma and Pi Beta Phi Co-Chairs and committee, we are pleased to announce our largest charitable donations to date. This speaks to the ongoing popularity of the event, but more importantly, it will impact countless children in Fort Worth who are served by Breakthrough Fort Worth and Gill Children’s Services.”

The gifts made this year nearly doubled the amount given in the past. Leigh Brown and Katie Howard (Kappa Kappa Gamma) and Allie Turney and Molly Van Amburgh (Pi Beta Phi), surprised Joe Breedlove ’78, Executive Director of Breakthrough Fort Worth, with a check presentation at their offices last week. 

“Breakthrough Fort Worth is overwhelmed by this gift,” Breedlove said. “The commitment it represents from not only the Design Inspirations/Kappa Kappa Gamma/Pi Beta Phi family, but also from the community they gathered, is a testament to our city's heart for its youth and ensuring equitable learning opportunities for all students. We are deeply honored to grow our programming and literacy impact to more Fort Worth youth with this funding, especially knowing that the students and our work for them are so enthusiastically supported.” 

About Breakthrough Fort Worth

Breakthrough Fort Worth is part of a national Collaborative of 24 affiliates. Its program empowers underserved, first-gen youth on a six-year learning path to college (grades 7-12), giving them added support that spans academic and literacy enrichment, leadership development, and a college-culture environment that includes admission training and coaching. Setting Breakthrough apart is its proven and applauded students-teaching-students model that provides college/high school youth with one of the best hands-on, pre-professional teaching experiences in the country. To learn more about Breakthrough, visit fwcd.org/breakthrough.

About Design Inspirations

2023 marked the 30th year for Design Inspirations, a fundraiser supported jointly by volunteers from the Fort Worth Alumnae Associations of Kappa Kappa Gamma and Pi Beta Phi. Gill Children’s Services, Inc. and Breakthrough Fort Worth were chosen as the 2023 beneficiaries.

The event itself features over 60 elegantly designed tables, creatively designed by local designers and individuals. Over the past 30 years, Design Inspirations has gifted more than $1.6 million to local Fort Worth nonprofits. For more information, visit designinspirations-fw.com.