During the month of October, members of the Zeta Tau Alpha’s Collin County Alumnae Chapter were seen throughout the community promoting their national philanthropy, breast cancer education and awareness, and encouraging others to Think Pink®.
Teaming up with five local high schools, the ZTA Collin County Alumnae Chapter provided nearly ten thousand Think Pink® ribbons for their October Pink Out events. ZTA members handed out ribbons at the Plano vs. McKinney football game on October 6, the Allen vs. Plano game on October 13, the Plano West vs. McKinney Boyd game on October 20, and the Lovejoy vs. North Forney game on October 27. The chapter also provided Think Pink® ribbons for everyone attending Prosper High School’s annual Pink Out pep rally on October 27.
Prior to the Plano and Plano West games, ZTA alumnae members visited the Planoettes and Royales drill team rehearsals to thank the girls for their continued dedication to breast cancer awareness and for leading the Pink Out effort on their campuses. Planoettes director, Meredith Walraven, and Royales assistant director, Kathy Conklin, both members of Zeta Tau Alpha, are committed to the fight for a cure and to seeing that the Pink Out tradition continues at these schools.
On the night of the Plano Wildcats game, Zeta Tau Alpha was recognized during a pre-game presentation by the Planoettes drill team for their ongoing Pink Out partnership. This is the sixth year that Collin County ZTAs have teamed with the Planoettes to spread awareness.
During these games and pep rallies, it is incredible to look up into the stands to see so many fans wearing pink and showing their support to find a cure. ZTA Think Pink® ribbons and pink accessories were also seen on drill team, band, cheer, and football team members, and to top it off, the team mascots wore giant ZTA Think Pink® ribbons during the games.
In addition to promoting awareness at sporting events, alumnae and collegiate ZTA members from throughout DFW staffed the survivor tent and other stations at the American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer (MSABC) Walk that took place on the Ronald Kirk Bridge in downtown Dallas on October 28. “It was truly inspiring to celebrate with so many breast cancer survivors, and I am proud to be a member of an organization that partners with the American Cancer Society,” stated Shelby Illingworth, VP Philanthropy for ZTA’s Collin County Alumnae Chapter. Through Zeta Tau Alpha’s national partnership with the American Cancer Society, ZTA members provide volunteer support for MSABC Walks throughout the country.
Zeta Tau Alpha fraternity for women was founded in 1898, and has more than 252,000 members worldwide. Breast cancer education and awareness is ZTA's national philanthropy, and the organization partners with American Cancer Society, National Football League, and Bright Pink to promote awareness. Think Pink® is a registered trademark of Zeta Tau Alpha, and members have distributed more than 10 million pink ribbons since 1992. For more information, visit collincounty.zetataualpha.org and zetataualpha.org.