FMU sororities support charities, raise funds
FMU sororities Zeta Tau Alpha (ZTA) and Alpha Delta Pi (ADPi) both held fundraisers for their focused charities: breast cancer education and awareness and the Ronald McDonald House charities respectively.
Both fundraisers were held on Nov. 11. ZTA held its fundraiser at McAllister’s Deli from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. The restaurant donated a portion of the money earned that night to ZTA’s philanthropy.
ADPi held its fundraiser at Sweet Frog from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sweet Frog donated a portion of its earnings to ADPi’s charity.
ZTA has been an advocate for philanthropic works since 1928, according to the ZTA Foundation. Some of the foundation’s past philanthropies include the Currin Valley (Va.) Health Center, Cerebral Palsy Division of the National Society for Crippled Children and Adults and Easter Seals.
The ZTA national philanthropy is currently breast cancer education and awareness, which they adopted in 1992. Since then, the members have given out 10 million tip cards on breast self-examination and has helped raise millions of dollars for the cause.
“I personally found passion in ZTA’s philanthropy because my grandma had breast cancer when I was a little girl,” Ashley Harris, junior English major and member of ZTA said. “Seeing the ZTA’s passion for breast cancer made me love them even more because I instantly felt a connection. I think coming together as a group of women and providing education and support for other women is an amazing opportunity, and I’m so happy I get to have a small part in it.”
McAllister’s Deli donated 15 percent of their profits to ZTA’s philanthropy when customers mentioned ZTA to their cashier. The sorority does not yet know the exact amount that they raised for breast cancer education and awareness during this fundraiser, but ZTA has raised more than $1,200 this semester.
ADPi has been working with the Ronald McDonald House Charities since 1979, according to the foundation. The sorority has conducted numerous fundraisers in support of the charity since the beginning of that relationship.
Last school year, ADPi raised more than one million dollars for the Ronald McDonald House Charities. This charity is designed to help families who have children in the hospital. They provide a “home-away- from-home” so that these families can live close to their hospitalized children at little to no cost.
“The Houses are built on the simple idea that nothing else should matter when a family is focused on the health of their child, not where they can afford to stay, where they will get their next meal or where they will lay their head at night to rest,” according to the ADPi website.
Senior psychology major Lauren Johnson is the philanthropy chair for the FMU chapter of ADPi.
“When walking into the Ronald McDonald House, it’s a feeling you can’t really put into words until you’ve experienced it yourself,” Johnson said. “There’s something magical about it. Without donations and support from the community and ADPi, Ronald McDonald House wouldn’t be able to provide as much as they do. It’s so cool to know that our chapter contributes to the continuing of an amazing organization.”
During the ADPi fundraiser, participants were asked to mention the event to the cashier at the time of purchase at Sweet Frog. Sweet Frog gave a portion of their pro ts from those transactions to the FMU chapter of ADPi. ADPi is currently waiting for Sweet Frog to work through the nances and let them know how much they made for the Ronald McDonald House charities.
ZTA and ADPi both have other fundraisers throughout the year. ZTA plans to hold nights like this at least once per year according to Sarah Jones, junior elementary education major and co- philanthropy chair for the FMU chapter of ZTA. ADPi holds one large event for the Ronald McDonald House every semester. In addition to that, they participate with other organizations in the community.
