85th Anniversary Celebration

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Zeta Phi Beta to observe 85th anniversary with weekend of celebration, community outreach

Event marks return to Washington birthplace for third largest African-American women’s service organization and reopening of renovated headquarters

WASHINGTON--More than 2,000 members of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, their families and friends will observe the 85th anniversary of the organization's founding on July 21-24, 2005 during a four-day celebration at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, Washington, D.C.
The event theme, "Advancing Our House By the Side of the Road", recognizes the completion of a $2 million, nine-month renovation of the organization’s international headquarters.

Members of the Sorority and various local and national dignitaries will be on hand July 23 for a gala to mark the rededication of the headquarters and the grand opening of the Zeta Museum, which will feature wax figurines and portraits of the Sorority’s founders. The museum is a collection of Sorority artifacts representing significant milestones in Zeta’s long history of service both in the United States and abroad.

In addition to the headquarters rededication, the nation’s third largest predominately African American women’s organization will host a weekend of activities including personal enrichment and economic empowerment workshops. Registered guests will be treated to a black-tie reception and several evenings of musical entertainment by renowned jazz and classical artists. Selected children from the District of Columbia will join the Zetas and guests at several of the evening performances.

One of the celebration highlights consists of a presentation to three Washington area organizations, Strive DC, Our Place DC, and the Community Action Group, that place women on the road to self-sufficiency. As part of the Sorority’s international service initiative, Zetas Helping Other People Excel commonly called Z-HOPE, Zeta women across the nation will donate slightly used and new business suits to the trio of non-profit orgs to assist area women seeking employment. The Sorority will also make a monetary donation to help them in their mission to empower lower-income and formerly incarcerated women.

“We will come to Washington, the birthplace of our Sorority, to reaffirm our belief in the collective responsibility we have as leaders, innovators and scholars to further the legacy of service started by the Sorority’s Founders at Howard University many years ago,” said Barbara C. Moore, 22nd International President. “This is a celebration of our auspicious past, our dynamic present, and of our commitment to remain a leading woman’s organization dedicated to helping improve the lives of people around the world.”

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Zeta Phi Beta Sorority was founded in 1920 in Washington, D.C., on the belief that the social nature of sorority life should not overshadow the real mission of progressive organizations—to address societal mores, ills, prejudices, poverty, and health concerns of the day.
The international organization's more than 125,000 initiated members and affiliates have given millions of voluntary hours to educate the public, provide scholarships, support organized charities and promote legislation for social and civic change.
Zeta Phi Beta has more than 800 chapters in the United States and abroad. In addition to its membership of college-educated woman, the Zeta Phi Beta umbrella includes Amicae (adult women), Archonettes (teen girls), Amicettes (pre-teen girls), Pearlettes (elementary age girls), and the Zeta Male Network auxiliaries.
For more information on the Sorority and its programs, please visit www.zphib1920.org.