Phi Delta Theta International Fraternity was founded in 1848 at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. The Fraternity now has 255,000+ members who have pledged themselves to live by the ideals of friendship, sound learning and rectitude. Today there are 170+ active chapters in 43 U.S. states and six Canadian provinces. The Fraternity's open motto, "Eis aner oudeis aner," is a Greek phrase meaning "We enjoy life by the help and society of others."
The ALS Association and Phi Delta Theta Fraternity have established an international philanthropic partnership to fight against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the disease that took Gehrig's life and his name.

This partnership formalizes an already existing bond between The ALS Association and Phi Delta Theta, which began as a result of a mutual interest in helping those suffering from ALS. New York Yankee Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig was a member of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity while attending Columbia University in New York, and is now the heart and impetus of the group's philanthropic endeavors.

"Phi Delta Theta is very pleased to partner with the ALS Association and the ALS Society of Canada to help support ALS patients and their families," said Robert A. Biggs, Executive Vice President of Phi Delta Theta. "We are very hopeful our efforts will help create greater awareness of this horrible disease and the urgency to find a cure for ALS."

With nearly 10,000 undergraduate members and approximately 150,000 living alumni, the Fraternity's goals are to encourage all its chapters to participate in The ALS Association's noted fundraising event, the Walk to Defeat ALS, to increase public awareness of ALS and the work that The ALS Association and The ALS Society of Canada (ALSSOC) are doing to combat the disease, and to challenge other fraternities and sororities on campuses across the
country to put together teams to join the Walk to Defeat ALS.

Phi Delta Theta furthered its partnership with The ALS
Association in 2010 with the creation of the Iron Phi program. 
The mission of Iron Phi is to strengthen the Phi Delta Theta International Fraternity and the impact it has on the fight against Lou Gehrig's disease through the fundraising and athletic efforts
of its members. To become an "Iron Phi", members of Phi Delta Theta (undergraduates and alumni) must select an athletic endeavor (marathon, half-marathon, running relay, triathlon, duathlon, ironman, bike race, etc.), raise $1,000 through the Iron Phi website and accomplish the athletic event itself.

Phi Delt chapters across the country have donated much of their philanthropy and community service efforts to ALS-related causes
over the years, including volunteering as an extra pair of hands for people who have lost the use of theirs, or visiting with those that are bedridden.