Day of Giving 2022: Sisterhood by the Numbers

The Zeta Tau Alpha Foundation’s third annual Day of Giving provided fun number facts, historical references, creative and informative videos, donor challenges and even a late-night party via Zoom. It was a complete interactive experience, but when it comes down to a decision, nothing influences donors more than personal outreach from ZTA sisters.

Fifty-five alumnae volunteered to be Ambassadors for Day of Giving 2022. Prior to the event, they reached out to sisters across the country to share their reasons for giving and ask others to join them with a donation. The personal outreach of the Ambassadors was a
key to securing 1,448 Day of Giving donations totaling $303,577.

For Ambassador Brooke Johnson Leppla, an alumna of Eta Pi Chapter (Wright State University) and member of the Dayton, OH Alumnae Chapter, being as personal and authentic as possible was the best strategy. “I decided to speak from my heart and share pictures of the opportunities I have had because of the Foundation and staying involved,” she said. “The saying ‘people may not remember what you said, but they will remember how you made them feel’ stays with me. I wanted to remind sisters who have not been involved recently just how much they have enjoyed being a ZTA.”

For Lucia Prenzel Knudsen, a charter member of Theta Chi Chapter (George Mason University) and member of the Dallas Area Night Alumnae Chapter, being an Ambassador starts with reminiscing. “I love a reason to reach out to sisters I don’t regularly talk with,” she said.
“I reminisced with them before asking them to participate. Sending group messages with sisters who know each other was really helpful in making connections.”

As a breast cancer survivor, Lucia believes strongly in the power of the Foundation’s education and awareness outreach over the last 30 years. “I love sharing our message with women throughout our communities,” she said. “We have reached so many women who would eventually become survivors. One recipient of our shower card told me we saved her life with our message of the importance of self-exams after she found a lump. That made all the work we do worth it.”

Brooke is proud of how the Foundation fosters the personal growth of our members through our award-winning programs. “Because of those programs, I’ve had the privilege of learning, traveling, networking and developing skills that would ultimately lead to my career in higher education as well as the businesses I own and operate,” she said.

This year, Day of Giving began at 10:15 a.m. EDT, Friday, Oct. 14, and ended at 10:15 a.m. EDT, Saturday, Oct. 15. The donations and sisterhood went long into the night, including the first-ever Late Night with ZTA online party. The 164 members who paid an extra $18.98 received a Zoom link for events that began at 11 p.m. EDT and 11 p.m. PDT. The festivities were led by former National President Keeley McDonald and Fraternity Housing Corporation Vice President Housing Area III Marnie Marlar Frazier. Everyone who attended received a special gift, and those who were first to correctly answer ZTA trivia questions in their breakout rooms earned additional fun prizes.

To carry out the Day of Giving theme, “Sisterhood by the Numbers,” 46 alumnae made challenge donations throughout the day. The challenges unlocked ZTA stories behind nine different numbers, celebrated first-time donors and encouraged two Power Hour donations. (View a video about each number at ztadayofgiving.org.)

Day of Giving will always encourage gifts of all amounts. Brooke stressed to her sister friends the importance of giving to provide for the future of ZTA. “Donating ensures that the opportunities you received as a collegiate member will continue for generations to come. You can ensure our Fraternity stays innovative and forward thinking,” she said. “And isn’t that the ultimate sentiment of our Creed? When we give, we create ‘the opportunity to learn those things that will ever enrich and ennoble our lives’ and the lives of our sisters for years to come.”