KAPPA SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT FUND OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA PRESIDENT ROBERT POWELL, LEFT, WITH STATE REP. AERION ABNEY.
Annual fundraiser is Saturday, Feb. 7, at Rivers Casino
by Ashley Kelley
For New Pittsburgh Courier
For over 30 years, the Kappa Scholarship Endowment Fund of Western Pennsylvania (KSEF) has been doing the life-changing work of opening doors for young people who have the talent and drive to succeed but may not always have the resources. This year, that mission was amplified with the return of Klub Kappa, the unique name the organization has selected for its primary annual scholarship fundraiser.
Klub Kappa combines high-energy entertainment with an even higher purpose. The event revives a name used in previous years, reimagined as a New York City-style nightclub experience, complete with a dress-to-impress theme, light shows, food, a photo booth, and live entertainment by local favorites Chuck and the Fellas.
“This is our primary fundraiser of the year,” said Robert Powell, president of KSEF, in an exclusive interview with the New Pittsburgh Courier. “We fundraise for specific purposes of giving scholarships and some of the programs that we have.”
Founded in 1991 as the brainchild of the late Thomas Motley Sr., KSEF is affiliated with the Pittsburgh Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. The organization is fully volunteer-run and has made a significant impact across the region.
“Over the years, we’ve given out more than $6 million in scholarship dollars,” Powell said, noting that those funds include contributions from collegiate and corporate partners. Among KSEF’s collegiate partners are Penn State University, Duquesne University, and Community College of Allegheny County, partnerships that have helped make full-ride scholarships possible for students. Corporate partners such as UPMC, Highmark, Dollar Bank, and The Wilson Group have also invested in the organization’s efforts.
While scholarships are paramount to KSEF’s mission, Powell emphasized that the organization’s programming opportunities are just as impactful.
“One of the things we’re extremely proud of is our SAT Prep program,” Powell said. “The students who participate in our SAT Prep program improve their SAT scores on average by 150 points. Those 150 points can be the difference between them getting a high-level scholarship, not only ours, but others, and even the difference of being able to get into an Ivy League college.”
Another fundamental part of KSEF’s work is its support of the Kappa League Program, a mentorship initiative designed to prepare young men for life beyond the classroom.
KSEF PRESIDENT ROBERT POWELL.
“The focus is on life skills,” Powell explained. “We talk about banking, credit card usage, the stock market, grooming, etiquette, and manners; things many young men wouldn’t otherwise be exposed to.”
One of the program’s most powerful elements is career exploration.
“We bring in doctors, lawyers, businessmen; professionals who talk about their careers and how they got to where they are today,” Powell said. “This type of exposure, we have found to be incredible in impacting the youth we mentor and serve.”
Information on how to join the mentorship program can be found at ksefpgh.org, and Powell said the organization is eager to welcome more youth.
Klub Kappa, Powell added, was created to bridge celebration with responsibility.
“It can be considered a party with a purpose,” he said. “Part of the price of admission helps fund our programming as well as the scholarships we present, which helps someone achieve their dreams.”
For Powell, that purpose is deeply personal. A longtime member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., he said the organization’s values have shaped his life.
“The fraternity itself is all built around achievement in every field of human endeavor,” Powell told the Courier. “For me, it was about class, being a gentleman, achieving, and supporting the community.”
He added: “Most people think fraternities and sororities are just about parties and college life. But the reality is it’s about community service, supporting your community, and the network, which is tremendous.”
Powell shared a powerful example of KSEF’s full-circle impact: a young man who participated in the Kappa League program for four years, earned a KSEF scholarship, went to college, became a member of Kappa Alpha Psi, returned to the area for law school, and now practices law in Pittsburgh.
“That means everything to me,” Powell said. “Not everyone is born with a silver spoon, and not everybody has a two-parent household. If you can have someone providing guidance from a male or female perspective and helping you achieve what you want, that means more than anything else.”
Yearly, KSEF awards approximately 15 to 20 scholarships through a competitive process. The organization hopes to expand through additional partnerships.
“We knew there were really smart and talented kids in our community,” Powell said. “They just didn’t have the resources to get to college.”
As Klub Kappa approaches, Feb. 7, at the Rivers Casino Event Center, Powell hopes first-time attendees walk away with more than a fun experience. VIP admission and reception begin at 7 p.m., general admission begins at 8 p.m. The event runs until midnight. Tickets are available at kappaloveisred.com.
“I want people to understand there’s an organization here that’s driving our community to be better,” Powell said. “We can have a good time, but that good time has a mission.”
