Iron Phi was developed in 2010 to strengthen Phi Delta Theta and its impact on the fight against Lou Gehrig’s disease. Through participants’ fundraising efforts on the way to achieving personal athletic goals, Iron Phi is creating a community of philanthropists who hope to leave ALS better than they found it.

To become an Iron Phi, participants must select an athletic endeavor of their choice, raise $1,000 through the Iron Phi website, and accomplish the physical effort. Dollars raised through the Iron Phi program equally support two major beneficiaries, the LiveLikeLou Foundation and Phi Delta Theta.

Lou Gehrig was known as the ‘Iron Horse’ during his baseball career because of his durability and perseverance. His prowess as a hitter, consecutive games-played record (2,130), and never-give-up attitude after being stricken with ALS inspired those around him. In the spirit of Brother Gehrig, the name Iron Phi was given to the initiative to encourage those involved to remember Lou’s approach to life when setting out to achieve something.

Since 2010, the program has raised more than $3.2 million, and over 1,500 individuals have become Iron Phis.