ZETA PHI BETA SORORITY, INCORPORATED

DELTA MU ZETA CHAPTER
VALERIE HOLLINGSWORTH-BAKER, INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT
GINA MERRITT-EPPS, ESQ., ATLANTIC REGIONAL DIRECTOR
AYRIS B. GRANBY, NY STATE DIRECTOR
MICHELLE P. STEVEN, Ed.D, CHAPTER PRESIDENTZETA PHI BETA SORORITY, INCORPORATED DELTA MU ZETA CHAPTER ANNOUNCES PURPLE REIGN CAMPAIGN IN NEW YORK, NY

New York, NY, November 7, 2019-In response to the significant rise in premature births, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority chapters across the country are planning prematurity awareness events on during the month of November. Zeta members in more than 850 communities across America will conduct prematurity awareness activities in houses of worship. Attendees will learn more about the infant health crisis that nearly half a million families cope with each year. 2019 marks the 17th consecutive year of Zeta’s participation by leading this nationwide grassroots campaign.

Here in New York City, participating congregations include: St. Gregory the Great Faith Community of St.Matthew’s Parish (991 St. John’s Place; Brooklyn, NY 11213), Metropolitan A.M.E. Church (58 W. 135th Street; New York, NY 10037, and Our Lady of Victory at St. Martin dePorres Parish (583 Throop Avenue; Brooklyn, NY 11216). The March of Dimes is leading a World Prematurity Day observance on Sunday, November 17, 2019. Prematurity affects one out of ten babies born in the U.S. today—a rate which has increased 29 percent since 1981. The numbers are even more alarming for African-American babies, who have a one-in-six chance of being born too soon!

In addition to the emotional toll, there is a tangible cost to premature birth as well. Average hospital charges in the United States for the most severe cases of prematurity were nearly 60 times higher than the charges for newborn stays, without complications. Prematurity is the leading cause of death for newborns in the first month of life; and many of the babies who survive, leave the hospital with lifelong health conditions or developmental disabilities that will place an additional financial burden on the family.

About March of Dimes

That’s why the March of Dimes is leading a national effort to save babies from premature birth by funding research to find the causes and by supporting local programs that offer hope and help to families with a baby in intensive care. As part of that effort, November is designated as Prematurity Awareness Month® to remind the public that premature birth is a crisis and to bring people together to help give all babies their nine months.

Despite its prevalence, many families endure the trauma of a premature birth, and all too often infant death, privately and silently. Most people are unaware of the scope of this common and costly health problem. “We want to help the March of Dimes educate the public,” said Dr. Michelle P. Steven, Delta Mu Zeta Chapter President. “So, we are bringing this vital information to the places where we worship, one of the cores of community life. This issue affects so many families in New York City, it just seems like the right thing to do.” The March of Dimes is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes funds programs of research, community services, education, and advocacy to save babies and in 2003, launched a national campaign to address the increasing rate of premature birth. For more information, visit the March of Dimes website at marchofdimes.com or its Spanish language website at nacersano.org. Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated was founded in 1920 on the belief that the social nature of sorority life should not overshadow the real mission to address societal mores, ills, prejudices, poverty, and health concerns of the day. The international organization’s 125,000+ initiated members, operating in more than 850 chapters, have given millions of voluntary hours to educate the public, provide scholarships, support charities, and promote legislation for social and civic change. For more information about Zeta Phi Beta Sorority,

Incorporated, please visit www.zphib1920.org.

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Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated Announces Centennial Week Activities January 12 – 18, 2020

The esteemed African American women’s service organization will mark its Centennial with notable guest speakers, performers, a fashion show, and a “Finer Womanhood Empowerment Summit” addressing issues impacting women.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated, one of the country’s largest African-American women’s service organizations, will mark its 100th year of service with Centennial Week activities Jan. 12-18, 2020 in Washington, D.C.

Valerie Hollingsworth Baker, Zeta’s International Centennial President, will kick-off the week by unveiling an exclusive line of Zeta-inspired St. John apparel, followed by activities featuring Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, attorney and Zeta member Anita Hill, former Congresswoman and Zeta member Donna Edwards, award-winning journalist April Ryan, Vivica A. Fox, actor Lamman Rucker; R&B artist Raheem DeVaughn, R&B artist and Zeta member Syleena Johnson, plus electrifying performances by The Chuck Brown Band, Zeta member DJ Poizon Ivy & DJ Heat, and the Zeta International Choir.

“This is a historic moment for Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated. Finally, our epic Centennial Celebration begins. I am elated to lead these amazing women at this time in our history,” said Hollingsworth Baker. “We are thrilled to welcome our sisters who are travelling from across the world to Washington D.C. Together, we will commemorate all that we have accomplished in the last 100 years and look forward with anticipation to what we will achieve next.”

Centennial Week activities include:

Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020: St. John reception at Queenstown Premium Outlets, 441 Outlet Center Drive, Queenstown, Maryland.
Monday, Jan. 13, 2020: Zeta Centennial digital signage activation will go live in New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas Washington, D.C., St. Louis and Memphis.
Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2020: A historic Founders’ Midnight Celebration will take place at Howard University, the birthplace of the sorority. Scheduled to perform are the Howard University Drum Line, musical artist Jacques Johnson, and DJ Heat & DJ Pozion Ivy. Syleena Johnson will serve as Mistress of Ceremony.
Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020: Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated Founders’ Busts will be unveiled during the Centennial Experience at 3 p.m. at the Washington Hilton Hotel, followed by an evening of celebration at the National Museum of African American History and Culture at 7 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 17, 2020: Rhapsody in Blue Fashion Show Extravaganza and Luncheon is scheduled for 11 a.m. at the Washington Hilton Hotel, featuring ten designers, including a surprise guest. In the afternoon, Zetas will distribute 5,000 blankets and toiletries to the homeless in Washington, D.C. A Sisterhood Day-into-Night Denim and Pearls Party is set for 7 p.m. at the Washington Hilton Hotel.
Saturday, Jan.18, 2020: The Finer Womanhood Empowerment Summit will take place at the Washington Hilton Hotel, and will showcase three panels of thought-leading women addressing issues related to education, health and wellness, family connectedness, social advocacy and economic development. This sold-out event will begin at noon. The Centennial Founders’ Gala will close out the week’s activities. This black-tie affair will take place at the Washington Hilton Hotel, starting at 7 p.m.

About Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated was founded in 1920 on the campus of Howard University, and is headquartered in Washington, D.C. Zeta has initiated a diverse membership of more than 125,000 college-educated women with more than 850 chapters in North America, Europe, Asia, the Caribbean, Africa and the Middle East. For more information about Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. visit www.zphib1920.org.

SOURCE Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.