Title
Recognizing, honoring and congratulating Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated on its 105th Founders' Day.
Body
WHEREAS, The Philadelphia City Council traditionally recognizes significant contributions to our community, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated is one such contributor and prepares to celebrate its 105th Founders' Day on January 16, 2025; and
WHEREAS, On January 16, 1920, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority was founded on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C. by Arizona Cleaver Stemons, Pearl Anna Neal, Myrtle Tyler Faithful, Viola Tyler Goings, and Fannie Pettie Watts; and
WHEREAS, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority was founded on the simple belief that sorority elitism and socializing should not overshadow the real mission for progressive organizations - to address societal mores, ills, prejudices, poverty, and health concerns of the day; and
WHEREAS, Since its inception, the Sorority has chronicled a number of firsts. Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. was the first Greek-letter organization to charter a chapter in Africa (1948); to form adult and youth auxiliary groups; to centralize its operations in a national headquarters at 1734 New Hampshire Avenue NW in Washington D.C.; to be constitutionally bound to a fraternity, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated, and was the first black Greek letter organization to perform at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade; and
WHEREAS, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., are the only National Pan-Hellenic Council organizations that can claim an authentic brother-sister association through a constitutional bond; and
WHEREAS, This constitutional bond allows both organizations to work closely together as they attempt to materialize what their founders envisioned through a deep and abiding dedication to enhancing and promoting systematic fellowship, African-American self-determination, justice, equal rights and service to all humankind; and
WHEREAS, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. has continu...
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