 "Photo: Mike Shanahan/ Staff Photographer")
Before rain began to fall yesterday, the color pink flooded the steps of Brower Commons on the College Avenue campus in the form of t-shirts, flyers and decorations for Zeta Tau Alpha's Think Pink Day, an annual event that raises awareness and funds for breast cancer.
Between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., ZTA sisters raised $4,000 from the sale of merchandise with the help of brothers from Theta Delta Chi, a new University fraternity.
Rutgers college senior and ZTA Vice President Theresa Tartaglia said the ribbons were the most popular item overall.
"That one dollar donation really adds up," Tartaglia said. "There are about 250 ribbons in every bag, and sisters have come back [in a three hour time span] with $150 in one bag."
ZTA sister and event organizer Lauren Grado said the funds raised will be donated to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, a global movement to end breast cancer.
Although the event was only for one day, ZTA sisters put a lot of effort into planning and execution, said Jennifer Liguori, School of Engineering sophomore and ZTA sister.
"We spent days before this [making] posters and flyers," she said. "We got here at 7 in the morning and we were here until 6 p.m. All of [the sisters] are on shifts."
The sorority is coming out here and supporting the cause throughout their busy schedules, she said.
"We have class, we have exams," Liguori said. "But everyone - everyone - makes an effort, because it is so important. Anything will help. Nothing is too small."
Many sisters who participated yesterday have a personal commitment to the breast cancer cause, said Jessica Corcoran, Rutgers College senior and ZTA treasurer. If there is not a personal association to family members, then the sisters were aware of close friends whose families had been touched by the cancer.
"Breast cancer is so common among many people, so others just want to help out whenever they can," Corcoran said.
While yesterday's event was a success, ZTA also plans to attend the Susan G. Komen's Race for the Cure on Sunday at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson to support the cause even further, Corcoran said. Sisters will join other ZTA chapters from New Jersey and major businesses that donate funds for breast cancer research on a regular basis.
"You can walk if you are a survivor or for [a victim]," Corcoran said. "My grandmother had breast cancer so I am walking for her. A lot of girls particularly join ZTA because they know someone who had breast cancer. Even if you do not have someone that you know, everyone [in ZTA] walks anyway because it is a good cause."
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