The Gamma Pi Boulé Foundation was established in 1986 by the Chattanooga chapter of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, known as the Gamma Pi Boulé. Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity is the oldest Black Greek letter fraternity. It was established May 15th, 1904 in Philadelphia , Pennsylvania by five physicians and a dentist. Members of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity are college graduates who have been successful and standout in their chosen professions. These professions include but are not limited to doctors, lawyers, judges, educators, governmental officials, business executives, entrepreneurs, dentists, engineers, professional athletes, bankers, accountants and architects.

The Gamma Pi Boulé was established by Jerome Page, who had recently relocated from Washington, D.C. to become the president of the Chattanooga Urban League. He had been a member of the Epsilon Boulé of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity while in Washington, DC. and sought to establish a Boulé in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He successfully organized twelve local accomplished and established professionals and subsequently chartered the Gamma Pi Boulé on July 12th , 1986.

Inspired by the preamble and basic tenets of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity as well as the successful social action programs and initiatives completed by other member Boulés, Gamma Pi Boulé sought to establish a local foundation. Dr Robert Clark, as Boulé president , with assistance from David Smith, from Theta Boulé in Knoxville, worked together to organize a committee to establish the Gamma Pi Boulé Foundation whose purpose would be to become the funding arm for the social action programs of the Gamma Pi Boulé. The foundation was granted nonprofit status in 2013.

The major fundraising source for the foundation has been the Paul A. McDaniel Boulé Scholarship Golf Classic. This event is held annually at the Brown Acres golf course in Chattanooga Tennessee. This event has been sponsored by an ever-growing list of local and regional businesses, organizations and individuals who support our mission. The awards have now expanded to support four individual four year scholarships. Renewal is based on predetermined academic criteria. As of 2022, more than $150,000 have been awarded since inception in 2013.

The Paul A. McDaniel scholarship, awarded through Gamma Pi Boulé, supplies financial assistance to academically accomplished African American male high school seniors who reside in southeast Tennessee and who have been accepted to accredited four-year colleges or universities. Applications, written essays as well as interviews are used to judge the candidates. The candidates are screened using the “whole person concept” for high moral character, superior academic achievement, leadership skills and a demonstrated willingness to use their talents for the betterment of society.

The foundation not only supports the Paul A. McDaniel Scholarship, it is able to contribute financially to other select organizations such as the Chattanooga Chapter of The Links, Inc., The Boys Leadership Academy , and the Urban League of Chattanooga.

Additionally, the Gamma Pi Boulé Foundation Board members are well established, socially active local philanthropic individuals who typically have shown Board level expertise as well as genuine interest in the furtherance of the mission of this Foundation.

In Memoriam

The Paul A. McDaniel Boulé Scholarship Golf Classic was rightfully named in honor of Reverend Paul A. McDaniel. Reverend McDaniel was a widely respected community icon, religious leader, long time pastor, trailblazing political leader and official, and civil rights leader with influence throughout the Greater Chattanooga region , the state of Tennessee and the nation.

We lost Reverend McDaniel on August 22, 2021 at the age of 91.

We the members of Gamma Pi Boulé and Gamma Pi Boulé Foundation will always cherish the legacy and memories of Reverend Paul A McDaniel.