LINDA LONG BOLAND (Gamma Kappa-CSU Long Beach) Champion for Youth
Linda Boland (Gamma Kappa-CSU Long Beach) has long held a special place in her heart for Anguilla, a British Overseas Territory in the eastern Caribbean. Since 1991, she and her family have divided their time between California and this sun-drenched island paradise. While the pristine white-sand beaches, gourmet dining and effortlessly luxurious atmosphere initially drew them in, it’s the warmth and spirit of the people that have kept them coming back year after year. “You’ll never find kinder, more helpful people than Anguillans,” Linda says. Ever since joining Alpha Phi more than 40 years ago, Linda has embraced the value of giving back to the communities and organizations that matter most to her. She has poured herself into Alpha Phi as a volunteer for decades. From chapter advisor and committee member to 2010-14 International President, Linda has devoted much of her adult life to serving the Fraternity that has given her so much. “I know from my work with Alpha Phi that giving time and energy to help young people ultimately makes the world a better place,” she says. “Every minute and every dollar makes a difference in young people’s lives, and that ripple effect makes the world a better place.” Beyond shaping the lives of college women in North America, Linda is also making a meaningful impact on the children of Anguilla, her second home. In January 2025, she founded Anguilla Schoolbooks Foundation, a U.S.- based nonprofit association that provides subject-matter
textbooks and workbooks for Anguilla’s primary school students. Linda recognized a sobering truth in her community: school-aged children were unable to reach their full potential in the classroom due to a lack of basic educational materials. In Anguilla, the government doesn't provide textbooks or workbooks, and for many families, purchasing these resources is simply not an option. That’s when Linda — and her 100% donor- funded nonprofit association — stepped in to do something about it. In its first year alone, the Anguilla Schoolbooks Foundation purchased and distributed textbooks and workbooks to more than 60 children. That number continues to grow, driven by Linda’s ultimate goal: to ensure that every primary school student in Anguilla has the materials they need to succeed. For Linda, an educator by trade, there is nothing more meaningful than watching Anguilla students smile when their teacher asks them to pull out their textbooks because they finally have one to pull from their backpacks. “A child who has the materials needed to succeed in class doesn’t feel embarrassed because they are different from their peers,” Linda says. “That child is proud to be prepared, ready to learn like everyone else.” Whether in the United States or Anguilla, Linda’s commitment to service is rooted in one belief: champion today’s youth, give them the tools to learn and grow and they will shape a better future for us all.
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