According to the American Cancer Society, around 42,000 women will die due to Breast Cancer in 2024. Breast cancer affects thousands of individuals and families all over the world, and Sacred Heart University’s chapter of the Zeta Tau Alpha (ZTA) sorority raises money in hopes of decreasing this number.
ZTA’s philanthropy is Breast Cancer Awareness and Education, making the fight against breast cancer a crucial aspect of their sorority.
Throughout the academic year, ZTA hosts fundraisers, partnering with local restaurants and ice cream shops, such as Romanacci’s and Main Street Creamery, to donate to their philanthropy.
ZTA members cheering on those walking for Breast Cancer
Awareness.
Contributed by Andrea Haggerty, ’26
Vice President of Programming for the Panhellenic Council and member of ZTA, junior Victoria Del Re said the chapter hosts interactive events throughout the year, such as Z-Factor, to fundraise for breast cancer
research. ZTA’s Z-Factor is a talent show put on by the sorority in support of breast cancer awareness and education.
This year’s Z-Factor will be held in the Edgerton Center on Thursday, Oct. 24.
“One fundraiser we have that’s super fun is Z-Factor. Think of the TV show the X-Factor, and then ZETA-fy it. We raise money through tickets and raffle baskets that are donated by businesses and families. All the money we raise goes back to the ZTA philanthropy and foundation, all supporting breast cancer education and awareness,” said Del Re.
When Del Re was going through the ZTA recruitment process, members wrote letters for breast cancer survivors or anyone going through treatment in the hospital.
“I really love how our fundraisers are in person, all hands-on with breast cancer survivors and patients. It’s truly meaningful to go to those walks and be with the people you’re fundraising for and supporting,” said Del Re.
ZTA members also participate and volunteer in Breast Cancer Awareness walks around Connecticut. The campus chapter attended one walk in early October in Hartford, Conn., and another called “Making Strides” in Westport, Conn., this past Sunday, Oct. 20.
Junior Andrea Haggerty said ZTA’s role during these walks is to “cheer on the survivors and current fighters,” while also helping set-up, check-in participants, and pass out goodie bags.
Haggerty said that ZTA’s philanthropy resonates deeply with her, and that the sorority’s events and walks are an emotionally rewarding experience for her. “I wanted to join a sorority to find my people, but it was also more than that for me. When we go to these breast cancer walks it’s so rewarding, because we get to see how much it means to the survivors, the fighters and all of the family members,” said Haggerty. “It honestly makes you emotional and it makes everything so worth it. You know why you’re there and it makes it so worth it for everyone.”
Director of Greek Life at SHU, Nick Frias, said the mission behind ZTA’s philanthropy is very important. Frias said that especially on a college campus, bringing awareness to something so prevalent is an important step for fighting for the cause.
“I think on any campus the impact is at first making people aware that such a thing is so prevalent, unfortunately, in a lot of women and some men. They’re really bringing the exposure to the issue and doing their best to have people share their stories about why the ZTA philanthropy means so much to them. They can see first-hand the people that benefit from the work they are putting on,” said Frias.
SHU’s ZTA chapter has an ongoing online fundraiser through www.crowdchange.co where anyone can donate money that goes to the ZTA philanthropy. The fund opened on Oct. 1, and will stay open through Dec. 8.
“Proceeds benefit the Zeta Tau Alpha Foundation to support scholarships, educational programming, leadership development, and our fight against breast cancer, which includes our partnerships with the NFL and the American Cancer Society,” said the CrowdChange website for ZTA at SHU.
To find more information regarding ZTA and their philanthropy for Breast Cancer Awareness and Education, visit @zta_shu on Instagram.
