The campus was painted pink the week of Oct. 6 as Zeta Tau Alpha (ZTA) hosted “Think Pink Week” to raise money for their national philanthropy, Breast Cancer Awareness and Education.
The women kicked off the week with a pink lemonade and bake sale on the Student Center patio complete with pumpkin muffins, cupcakes and cookies on Monday, followed by a Pink Out men’s soccer game Tuesday night, according to the chapter’s Director of Philanthropy Alexis Manzo., a senior Spanish major.
The second annual “Fall Into Pink” event was co-sponsored with the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) and was held Wednesday on the Student Center patio. “Fall Into Pink” included a silent auction, bake sale, chocolate fondue station, pumpkin painting, Pie-a-Zeta, music and other games.
“The ‘Fall Into Pink’ event was very successful,” said Mary Harris, a specialist professor of public relations and faculty advisor for PRSSA. “Not only did students from ZTA and PRSSA raise awareness for two important philanthropies, they worked together to great a community-centered event that had something fun for everyone to enjoy.”
“Fall Into Pink” raised $900. Half of the proceeds benefitted ZTA’s philanthropy, Breast Cancer Awareness and Education, and half benefitted PRSSA and the Shadow PR Firm’s client, The People’s Pantry. The People’s Pantry is a hunger relief organization based out of Tom’s River that works to provide food and aid for the hungry, according to the organization’s Facebook page.
“We’re happy to keep Fall Into Pink an annual event and thrilled that we were able to make it bigger and better than the year before,” said PRSSA co-president Casey Allocco, a senior public relations major. “Teaming up with ZTA is always a fun choice for us and we couldn’t ask for a better team to work with.”
The beginning of the week was big for the chapter as well, said Ayla Yildiz, senior Vice President of ZTA. Half of the organization attended Susan G. Komen’s Race for the Cure at Six Flags Great Adventure on Sunday.
“Walking around and talking to people who have been affected by Breast Cancer at these events solidifies the amazing cause Zeta Tau Alpha supports,” said Manzo.
At Susan G. Komen’s Race for the Cure, the sisters volunteered in the art tent, helping decorate beads to create a giant necklace of hope, explained Colleen Walsh, a junior health and physical education major. They also passed out runners bibs that participants filled out “In memory of” or “In celebration of” to pin to their shirts before the race.
While some of the sisters attended the race, the other half attended ZTA sponsored “A Crucial Catch” with the NFL Giants game.
“The NFL is one of ZTA’s sponsors,” said Manzo, “so ZTA chapters around the nation are invited to certain professional games to handout ribbons and sell other Pinked Out NFL gear at the tailgates to raise money for the philanthropy.”
The week concluded with a Dine-to-Donate fundraiser with Bagel Guys Deli. Bagel Guys teamed up with the sisters for a fundraiser. When a flyer was brought into the deli, 10 percent of the proceeds from the meal would be donated to the chapter’s philanthropy.
“The exact amount of proceeds from the fundraiser with Bagel Guys is still to be determined, but even without that number we were still able to raise over $750 through our campus ‘Think Pink Week,'” said Manzo.
PHOTO TAKEN by Erin Ally
