Quick Facts

Date/Place Founded
January 16, 1920
Howard University
Washington, D.C.

Principles
Scholarship, Service, Sisterly Love, Finer Womanhood

Sorority Colors
Royal Blue & White

Symbol
White Dove

Flower
White Rose

National Projects

Since 1920, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. committed itself to improving the health and welfare of children, youths, and their parents. Throughout its existence, Zeta has conducted national and local projects that would improve human conditions among these people.

The sorority sponsored a national juvenile delinquency project the first 45 years of its existence. Different aspects were highlighted through special projects such as: Foster Home Care, Youth Conferences, Vocational Guideline Clinics, Tinker Shops, and the development of youth groups. This project won many of the nation's awards for outstanding services rendered to children and youth.

In 1943, the Housing Project was initiated. Zeta conducted surveys to locate housing vacancies which could be registered with the National Housing Association of the United States. During World War II, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority assisted the government in securing housing for many war workers.

In 1967, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. and the U.S. Department of Labor jointly sponsored "A Demonstration Project for Summer Urban Orientation and Work Experience for Rural Youth." Also, a special project, "Adopt a Family," in Beaufort, South Carolina, was adopted. Listed below are some major national thrusts.

Since 1972, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. has enjoyed a partnership with the March of Dimes in an effort to encourage women to seek prenatal care within the first trimester of pregnancy, thereby increasing the prevention of birth defects and infant mortality. Nationwide, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. sponsors over 175 Stork's Nests. Last year, The Stork's Nest program served over 28,000 women. 

The Stork's Nest Program is designed to promote prenatal care participation and healthy behaviors during the pregnancy through two components - incentives and education. Stork's Nest clients "earn" points toward incentives, such as maternity or baby care items, through a variety of positive, health-promoting activities such as attending prenatal care appointments, participating in prenatal education classes, keeping appointments for well-baby visits. The Stork's Nest prenatal education sessions provide information, educational materials, and a variety of other resources and referrals that help clients take good care of themselves and their babies.

In 1997, Zeta celebrated its 25th anniversary of collaboration with the March of Dimes. The program was updated to include a new national logo, new educational materials and new incentive items for those mothers participating in the program.  

For more on the Stork's Nest, visit Zeta Phi Sorority's signature programs on our international website.

Since the sorority's inception in 1920, Zetas have always strived to help others excel. In 2000, this effort was redefined with the Z-HOPE (Zetas Helping Other People Excel) Initiative. Z-HOPE focuses its efforts within five major populations: women, youth, seniors, men and international women and designed to address the whole person via a holistic framework that focuses on the three key elements of life: body, mind, and spirit.

For more information on Z-HOPE, visit Zeta Phi Beta Sorority's signature programs on our international website.

The National Educational Foundation of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. with 501© 3 status is created and operated exclusively for charitable and educational purposes. The principle activities and purpose of the trust are to award scholarship grants to worthy students for the pursuit of higher education; to conduct community educational programs which will aid in the educational and vocational improvement in individual and community living standards; to engage in activities which will aid in the educational development of all women; and to engage in any appropriate research related to the purposes of the Foundation scholarship.

Human Genome Project

Begun formally in 1990, the Human Genome Project is a 13 year effort coordinated by the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Institutes of Health to (1) identify all of the approximate 30,000 genes in human DNA; (2) Determine the sequences of the 3 billion chemical base pairs that make up human DNA; (3) store this information in databases; (4) improve tools for data analysis; (5) transfer related technologies to all sectors; (6) address the ethical, legal, and social issues (ELSI) that may arise from the project; (7) to train scientists who will be able to use the tools and resources developed through the HGP to improve health (8) provide internships in order to encourage minority students to pursue the sciences, biotechnology, and scientific research.

As leaders in academia, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority's National Educational Foundation was the first Greek letter organization to address this issue of concern. Zeta Phi Beta Sorority has undertaken the responsibility to serve as a link between the scientific community and the general population-the people whom our local chapters serve in their communities. The Sorority believes that there is a continuing need to disseminate this information to minority communities about the Human Genome Project and the status of minorities within this health research, as well as provide an appreciation of the societal implications for the knowledge gained from this research.

For more on the Stork's Nest, visit Zeta Phi Sorority's signature programs on our international website.

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© 2011 Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. - Tau Eta Zeta Chapter