Today we celebrate the founding of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. and celebrate their service to the community! Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. has formed several community-based partnerships over the past 85 years. Whether administering our Z-HOPE program or giving financial assistance through our National Education Foundation, they pride themselves on doing so with the understanding that service to the community is their greatest legacy.
Since 1972, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority 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.
From the Sorority’s inception, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. has long demonstrated an interest in serving the needs of the community. Spanning the Sorority’s nearly thirty-year partnership with the March of Dimes to its relationship with the Human Genome Project, Zeta Phi Beta has been at the forefront of anticipating the ever-changing needs of society. 
The Objectives of Z-HOPE?
Z-HOPE is an outreach service program that has six primary objectives, corresponding measures of success and a mechanism for chapter recognition. The primary objectives are:
– To provide culturally appropriate informational activities according to the Z-HOPE program format
– To foster collaborative partnerships between community organizations with shared goals
– To promote the opportunities for expansion in Stork’s Nest programs
– To facilitate community service and mentorship opportunities for members of the organization
– To provide an equitable chapter recognition program for community services rendered
– To provide a standard reporting format to concentrate efforts and demonstrate the organization’s impact
To learn more about the programs and initiatives of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. visit www.zphib1920.org.
