Calvin Allen, Eta 1971, honored with prestigious Outstanding Philanthropist Award

On Saturday, March 1, 2025, the Educational Trust had the distinct honor of presenting the Outstanding Philanthropist Award to Calvin Allen, Eta 1971. This award is presented to an individual or family with a proven record of exceptional generosity who, through direct financial support, has demonstrated outstanding fraternal and charitable responsibility, and whose generosity encourages others to take philanthropic leadership roles within Chi Phi.

Brother Allen was initiated into the Eta Chapter at the University of Georgia in 1968. From this moment forward, he always ensured that the hand of Brotherhood was extended. A classic example of Calvin’s good-natured personality is fondly remembered by Curtis Johnson, Eta 1973. Brother Johnson recalls riding up to the Chapter house on his motorcycle on a particularly chilly evening. Calvin, noting the cold weather, immediately gave Curtis his US Army field jacket, a jacket that was emblazoned with his unit’s insignia and “ALLEN” on the pocket. Brother Johnson kept the jacket for many years and not only appreciated the warmth it always provided but also the positive memories of Brother Allen’s generosity.

During his time at the University of Georgia, Calvin become best friends with Victor J. Pryles, Eta 1968–a friendship that lasted well outside of the college days. Unfortunately, Brother Pryles passed away in 2004 after a courageous battle against cancer, but he is remembered as a beloved husband, father, and friend with a unique personality and trademark bowtie.

Nearly eleven years after Vic’s passing, Brother Allen was still looking to create a positive impact within the Eta Chapter in memory of Brother Pryles. In March of 2015, Calvin established the Vic Pryles Memorial Scholarship Fund within the Chi Phi Educational Trust. This fund awards scholarships to an undergraduate degree-seeking student at the University of Georgia who is an active member, in good standing of the Eta Chapter, and has been selected and recommended to receive a scholarship by the Review Committee.

The scholarship is designed to celebrate the accomplishments of an Eta Brother who is advancing himself for a successful future and is intended to cover the total cost of tuition and fees as well as room and board for all the years the Brother is enrolled as an undergraduate.

2021 scholarship recipient, Grayson Loudermilk, Eta 2023, shared: “This scholarship covered both my tuition as well as room and board, which enabled me to pursue a legal education without financial barriers. This incredible opportunity set me on a path that led to working with the chairman of a prestigious law firm, gaining invaluable experience with a congressman, and ultimately securing a position at a top-tier law firm in Manhattan. None of this would have been possible without receiving this scholarship.”