Philanthropy has been the first in-person round of recruitment the last two years. So, for many, the first impression of Zeta is our philanthropy which is symbolic as it is something that means so much to us as a chapter and unites us. Our philanthropy is Breast Cancer Education and Awareness, a cause that hits home for many as 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed in their lifetime. Unfortunately, I am one of the many that are deeply connected to this cause. My mom was diagnosed with Stage III Lobular Carcinoma in the Fall of 2020. Fortunately, she is cancer-free, but I know firsthand what breast cancer looks like and the lasting effect it has. A lot of members of our chapter have a similar story to mine, and if they don't, then it is more than likely that they have an aunt, grandmother, or family friend that were diagnosed. And if not, then this is a cause that the majority that is affected are women, so, there is still that that connects us. That is part of what makes our philanthropy so special. We are raising money and educating our members so that my mom's or your aunt's or grandmother's story doesn't become ours and I am so proud of that! 

To fundraise for our philanthropy, we do a lot of different events. This includes two large philanthropic events- The Strawberry Sale in the Spring and Big Man on Campus in the fall. The strawberry is one of ZTA's symbols so it just seems right to do a sale! For the Strawberry Sale, we work with Bushvine Farm which is located in York, SC. This way we are both helping a South Carolina farm and getting the freshest strawberries to sell as possible. When selling the strawberries, we also give people the option to donate a flat to Christ Central Ministries which helps provide for the needs of those who cannot provide for themselves. Last year we were able to donate around 200 flats! In total, the strawberry sale raised over $30,000! Big Man on Campus is a male pageant that allows members of the USC community to come together for a night of amazing talents and funny routines to raise money for a great cause as the men compete for the title of Mr. BMOC. It is the biggest philanthropic event we hold and most of our members' favorites! Last fall, we were able to raise over $55,000! We do our best to raise as much money as possible for Breast Cancer Education and Awareness but also try to have fun along the way!