Since 1920, the legacy of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. has been firmly secured in the sorority’s service to community and all humanity. Building on that legacy, Zeta has adopted a national service program that is viable for the 21st century, and more importantly, meets the critical societal needs that impact African Americans and International Women of Color. The program. Z-HOPE: Zetas Helping Other People Excel (Through Mind, Body and Spirit), is a holistic, multidimensional outreach program. Z-HOPE targets five major populations (Women, Youth, Men, Seniors, International Women of Color) utilizing a life-span approach, reaching all people…from the young to the old, from prenatal to geriatric.
Other sorority initiatives under Z-HOPE include: Mental Health, Autism, Elder Care, Adopt-a-School, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, Military Appreciation Week, MLK Day of Global Service, Zetas Have Heart, March of Dimes and The American Cancer Society’s Breast Cancer Programs.
A unique feature of Z-HOPE is its focus on community collaboration, partnership and outreach. Omicron Omicron Zeta Chapter takes our programs to the people and utilizes existing community resources to produce the maximum program effects. We continue to foster partnerships with local and national organizations with similar interest.
International Women of Color is one of five components of Z-HOPE. The programming benefits include support for those with AIDS and those caring for AIDS victims, literacy programs, building water wells, donating rice and much more. The Sorority have built more than 52 water wells throughout Ghana and built a medical clinic at the Afua Kobi Apem Senior School for girls in Ghana. Over the years, the chapter has contributed medical supplies to the clinic, care packet to AIDS victims, monetary funds for rice and contributing to the building of a water well.
Autism Awareness Initiative consists of three components; Cultivating Caregivers, Living with Autism (adult focused), and Youth Living with Autism (child/teen focused). Omicron Omicron Zeta chapter is committed to engaging the community by building relationships with local autism organizations, keeping local elected officials aware of legislative issues and extending invitations to chapter programming. The sorority has partnered with Micah’s Voice, to build awareness, strengthen advocacy and execute fundraising to support families of autistic children. The chapter participates in the Autism Speaks Walk in October and Light It Up Blue in April, a social media campaign dedicated to raising autism awareness.
Domestic Violence Initiative (DVI) builds healthy relationships and increases domestic violence awareness via 1) cutting edge programs; 2) supporting legislation and policies focused on protecting women and children from domestic violence and its after effects; and 3) promoting brand aligned partnerships dedicated to the protection of women and children. The chapter contributes to funding local women’s shelters, providing bras to women in shelters, wearing purple during DV Awareness Month in October and denim on International Denim Day for sexual violence in April. The chapter’s youth program for DV is called Dating Matters®. It provides workshops to promote healthy teen relationships to stop teen dating violence before it starts.
Mental Health Initiatives help to destigmatize mental illness, provide awareness, and to educate
our communities to increase overall well-being. The vison is that initiative will promote healthy communities that support open dialogue about mental health and empower individuals to seek help instead of suffering in silence.
Elder Care Initiative strives to provide education and awareness about preparing for your senior years. The African American community is least prepared when it comes to retirement, estate planning and understanding the legal and financial preparation needed to care for parents, grandparents and ultimately, for our own long-term care. It is a comprehensive program that also focuses on elder abuse awareness, financial peace, supporting the caregiver and volunteering at senior care facilities. The Zetas, Amicae and Youth Clubs provide ongoing support to several senior centers in Gloucester County.
Zetas Have Heart is a program designed to increase awareness about heart disease in African-American women and to support members of Zeta and the community in getting fit and becoming more active.
Zeta Prematurity Awareness Program (ZPAP) occurs annually during the entire month of November in support of World Prematurity Day on November 17th and the March of Dimes. Zeta chapters and auxiliaries reach out to houses of worship across the country and distribute information on prematurity awareness, causes of prematurity and the importance of seeking prenatal care in an effort to decrease infant mortality and the number of low birth weight babies. Each year Omicron Omicron Zeta Chapter participates in this program at local churches.
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. has partnered with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to eliminate childhood cancer. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital mission is “to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment … no child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family’s ability to pay.” Omicron Omicron Zeta Chapter provides annual monetary donations to the hospital.
Adopt-A-School allows members of Zeta Phi Beta to identify low performing schools and provide assistance in a number of ways to enhance the
educational experience and increase test scores. Members purchase supplies and/or equipment, provide volunteer hours, provide scholarship incentives, assist with parent engagement programs and work with administrators to identify needs that may be specific to that particular school. Omicron Omicron Zeta Chapter Zetas, and Amicae have adopted Evergreen Avenue Elementary School in Woodbury, NJ. The chapter funds scholarship incentives, donates teacher supply bags, conducts a Halloween Trunk-or-Treat, organizes an African American Read-In and funds PTO activities.
Military Initiatives Zeta 
Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated has taken on the mission to help increase awareness of the sacrifices and contributions made by America’s veterans and military families. The chapter’s contributions have included: Volunteering and donations to the NJ Veterans Memorial Home at Vineland; monetary donations to Women Veterans Rock, Inc. and providing holiday gifts to military families. Wreaths Across America is a December contributions to the Buffalo Soldiers Cemetery in Franklinville. Memorial Day, 2023, the chapter purchased a permanent sitting bench for the cemetery.
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is ‘what are you doing for others?’”
Martin Luther King, Jr.
On the observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated celebrated by completing hundreds of community service projects. On that day, Omicron Omicron Zetas, the Amicae and the Youth Clubs volunteer at the South Jersey FoodBank. The Amicae also volunteer as servers at a MLK Day Breakfast in the community.
15 million babies are born prematurely each year around the world. 1 million will die. Prematurity is the #1 killer of babies in the United States. March of Dimes is working to change that and help more moms have full-term pregnancies and healthy babies. From polio to prematurity the March of Dimes has focused on researching the problems that threaten our children and finding ways to prevent them. March for Babies is our biggest weapon in the fight against premature birth, raising funds to help more moms have healthy, full-term babies as well as research to find why it occurs and preventions to keep it from happening. April of 2024 the chaper sponsored a MOD Community Walk for all teams in South Jersey. The Walk contrbuted $10,492.00 to the March of Dimes.
Almost everyone has been touched by breast cancer in some way, so our Sorority decided to make a difference all over the country by walking and raising money in local American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer events. Omicron Omicron Zeta Chapter walks each year in October in South Jersey. October of 2023 the chapter contributed over $3,000.00 to the American Cancer Society. To continue to bring awareness to breast cancer the members “Go Pink” wearing pink outfits during the month of October.
Local Partnerships
DOT Organization, Inc., Image and Attitude, Inc., New Jersey Chapter of March of Dimes
The Gloucester County NAACP, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE)
National Organization of Black Women in Law Enforcement (NOBWLE)
Eleanor Corbett House, Gloucester County Department of Health and Senior Services
Phieffer Center of Williamstown, Williamstown Library, Rowan University Food Pantry, New Eyes for the Needy
Joy of Sox, Inc., FoodBank of South Jersey, Woodbury Library, 100 Black Women of Southern New Jersey
The Buffalo Soldiers, United States Colored Troops, 22nd Regiment Cemetery
Z-HOPE Awards for Outstanding Service to the Community
National – 2004, 2006
National 2023-2024 American Cancer Society Award & Autism Awareness Award
Regional – 1st Place Awards in 2003, 2021, 2022 and 2nd Place in 2005, 2007
State – 1st Place Awards for 2003-2007, 2009 and 2010, 2013-2023
State – 2nd Place Awards for 2011, 2012 & 2024
