Since adoption as the Fraternity's national philanthropy in 1992, the focus on Breast Cancer awareness, research, treatment, education, and screening has brought enthusiastic support from ZTA alumnae and collegians, whose mothers, grandmothers, sisters, and friends have been touched by the disease. In fact, one out of every eight women will be affected by breast cancer.
In return for their outstanding volunteer contribution, the Susan G. Komen Foundation, one of ZTA's partners in the fight against breast cancer, awarded the Jill Ireland Award to Zeta Tau Alpha. The ZTA Foundation furnishes more than a quarter of a million dollars to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation each biennium. In addition, ZTA supports many other Breast Cancer charities, often partnering nationally with other organizations such as the National Football League, Kellogg's Cereals, and Yoplait Yogurt.
Thousands of ZTA volunteers rise before dawn to staff Race for the Cure events in 65 cities across the country each year. Heartfelt support comes from the ZTA Foundation's co-sponsorship of Komen's Survivor program. At the Race, ZTA members give Breast Cancer Survivors "badges of honor," special visors and buttons to wear during Race events, while ZTA gives all runners back signs to wear "In Memory" or "In Celebration" of loved ones with Breast Cancer. As the runners progress along the 5K route, there are hundreds of Zetas along the way to cheer them on.
Each April 1, ZTA members participate in the annual "Don't Be A Fool, Do Breast Self-Examinations" event and distribute over a million waterproof shower cards that illustrate breast self-examination and can be prominently displayed in the shower. Breast Self-Examination calendar reminder stickers were added to this project in the year 2000. Zeta Tau Alpha encourages the public to "Think Pink" in October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and members distribute millions of pink ribbons for supporters to wear. (In fact, Zeta Tau Alpha does so much for Breast Cancer awareness, research, and treatment, that "Think Pink" is now a registered trademark logo of ZTA.)
Service is very important to the ZTA chapter here at Jacksonville State University-so important that the chapter does many local service projects in addition to those supporting the national Breast Cancer philanthropy. For a list of the JSU Zetas' many service projects, please click on the "Local Service Projects" link (top right).
