Coinciding with Breast Cancer Awareness Month and in conjunction with Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at UHealth–the University of Miami Health System, members of Zeta Tau Alpha (ZTA), an international women’s fraternity, put their insignia colors – turquoise blue and steel gray – aside this week for pink, the renowned hue of breast cancer awareness. Each October, the Gamma Alpha chapter at the University of Miami holds an Annual Think Pink Week to raise awareness for breast cancer. Their mission is to spread the message of breast cancer education and awareness, in hopes to diminish the disease.
At the Coral Gables campus, ZTA is known for distributing hundreds of vibrant pink ribbons, swapping the lighting to pink around the Shalala Student Center and the Cobb Fountain in Lake Osceola throughout October. While one in eight women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime, this cause is personal to the ZTA Gamma Alpha chapter.
“This week is about more than just a ribbon,” Lydia Franklin, co-philanthropy chair of ZTA, said. “This is very important to our organization because a lot of girls have been personally affected by breast cancer. Many of us have friends or family members who have or will be affected.”
At their kickoff event, the women of ZTA gathered on the Foote University Greene to host a friendly fraternity sport competition. Attendees also showed their support by giving the “Kiss for a Cure” banner a smooch while wearing bright pink lipstick. For the event, ZTA partnered with Jimmy John’s and sold raffle tickets for prize giveaways. All proceeds will go to breast cancer research.
“The fall [semester] is all about raising awareness and making our presence known on campus,” Franklin said. “It’s important for us to get the word out and in the spring, we host our annual fashion show. Last year we were able to raise $80,000.”
As part of ZTA’s Think Pink Week, you can catch them tabled on the UC Rock Plaza and in the Breezeway throughout the week educating the University community about understanding risk factors, self-examination, and the importance of early detection. On Wednesday night at the Lakeside Patio, ZTA will be hosting their Breast Man Pageant for fraternity men to participate in.
For more information about ZTA, visit their chapter website.
