Two Zeta Tau Alpha members have published award-winning books that chronicle their battles against breast cancer at very young ages. Sigma Chapter (Baker University) member Jennifer Johnson is co-author of "Nordie's at Noon--the personal stories of four women 'too young' for breast cancer." Geralyn Lucas, who was the ZTA Convention 2006 Special Initiate, is the author of "Why I Wore Lipstick to My Mastectomy."
Jen Johnson, second from the left, celebrated the Lifetime Time Hero Award she received in Los Angeles on October 16, 2007, with her Zeta Tau Alpha sisters, from left: ZTA Fraternity Housing Corporation Director Kay McCoy McKelvey, former Lifetime Director of Public Affairs Geralyn Lucas, former Province President Dolores Gonzales Gastineau and Vice President Alumnae II Diane Hanson Keegan.
Jen, who was the guest speaker at the closing brunch at ZTA's National Leadership Conference 2007, was nominated for the Lifetime award by the Fraternity. In 2008, Jen was also recognized as a Yoplait Champion for her dedication to breast cancer education, awareness and support. While Jen became a ZTA member as a college student at Baker University, Geralyn's path was very different. As her book was about to be published in 2004, she searched the Internet for help to promote breast cancer awareness among college women. She found ZTA’s website and learned about the Fraternity’s breast cancer education and awareness efforts. That click of the mouse led to hundreds of ZTA collegiate and alumnae members volunteering at “Courage Nights” at Betsey Johnson Boutiques in 2004 and 2005, and Lucas’ initiation into ZTA in the summer of 2006.
As part of Think Pink® activities in October 2006, collegiate chapters of Zeta Tau Alpha hosted “Courage Night” viewing parties for the Lifetime Television premiere of “Why I Wore Lipstick to My Mastectomy,” starring Sarah Chalke from ABC’s “Scrubs” and Jay Harrington from ABC’s “Desperate Housewives." Lifetime Television asked ZTA to lead its College Outreach program and sent each chapter a “Courage Night in a Box” kit which included discussion guides and breast cancer education materials.
Lifetime also honored Zeta Tau Alpha as a Lifetime “Breast Cancer Hero” at the premiere of the movie in New York City on Oct. 11, 2006.