Zeta Tau Alpha is an international women’s fraternity whose philanthropy focuses on breast cancer education and awareness. As a member of Zeta Tau Alpha our philanthropy is very important to me. Breast Cancer affects many people and families, and goes beyond just the diagnosis itself. It is a scary reality that has such an impact on families and loved ones, which is why awareness and education are so important. There are many chapters of Zeta Tau Alpha that have the same mission to have an impact and make a difference. I want to highlight what Merrimack College’s chapter, Kappa Omicron, does to put this call to action into practice. Through our annual auction event, efforts to spread awareness with “think pink” ribbons, and opportunities to learn directly from survivors, we make a difference in our own unique way.
- All Things Auction
Auction is an annual event that our chapter puts on each year. This year marks the 23rd year, making it a longstanding tradition. Each year at this event, we come together to raise money, spread awareness, and support the fight against breast cancer. Auction gives us an opportunity to honor all those who have fought breast cancer, celebrate survivors, remember those we have lost, and support the fight against breast cancer.
Each sister that attends puts together a themed basket that guests can bid on throughout the night. These baskets help us raise funds in support of Zeta Tau Alpha’s Foundation. The Foundation’s efforts is breast cancer education through its various partnerships with the American Cancer Society and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. While each bid helps support this mission, our goal is not only to raise money but also to spread awareness, support those affected by breast cancer, and continue working toward a future where fewer families have to experience its impact.
- “Thinking Pink”
One of my favorite things that ZTA does to spread awareness is distributing pink ribbons. I may be a little biased because I love the color pink, but walking around campus and seeing so many people with pink ribbons on their backpacks, even those not a part of Zeta, always makes me smile. It is such a simple gesture but it serves as a great reminder of what we stand for and the people behind the cause. It reminds us to always “think pink” — something we often say as a reminder to remember those who have fought, those who are still fighting, and those who have been affected by breast cancer. Our chapter makes an effort to share this message as we hand out the ribbons to students and staff on campus, especially this time of year. On the night of the auction everyone receives a ribbon and learns the great meaning behind “thinking pink” and how something so simple can be so meaningful.
- Power of Personal Stories
Education is another important part of the auction. To begin the evening we invite a survivor to share their experience of fighting breast cancer. To hear firsthand how this disease impacts someone, their family, and their life makes it that much more real. It becomes more than just a diagnosis or another statistic; it becomes a real story. Hearing a story from a survivor offers a different perspective about the challenges they faced and what their journey taught them. It made me realize education is not just about the facts and numbers but about the impact.
Being a part of Zeta and working on our philanthropy I have seen that contributing to a cause can be done in countless ways. We are always educating and bringing awareness to the cause and finding new ways to do so. Whether it is raising funds from a bid on a basket, through a pink ribbon, or learning about a survivor’s experience with breast cancer, our chapter contributes by always bringing awareness to the cause.
Being a member of Zeta Tau Alpha and auction chair, I am so grateful to be a part of an organization that gives me the opportunity to make a difference. On a night like a auction everyone gets to make that difference too. With our Auction event I have seen with a shared purpose and mission to make a difference how everyone comes together for something so meaningful. Our Think Pink auction is a reminder that when we come together with a shared purpose, even small actions can help create a meaningful impact.