Fostering Connections, a St. Johns County-based nonprofit organization, recently received a $10,000 donation from the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. in honor of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority’s recent Southeastern Regional Conference, held Nov. 11-13 at the Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa in Ponte Vedra Beach.
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, founded in 1920 on the campus of Howard University, is headquartered in Washington, D.C. It has initiated a diverse membership of more than 125,000 college-educated women with more than 900 chapters in North America, Europe, Asia, the Caribbean, Africa and the Middle East.
The Southeastern Region is the largest region of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority and is comprised of the states of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, and the islands of the Bahamas, Virgin Islands and Trinidad and Tobago. The region hosts an annual leadership conference where its members come together to promote the business of the sorority and support the local community.
“It is our honor and pleasure to sow a financial seed into Fostering Connections,” said Vicki L. Pearson, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. Southeastern Regional Director.
In May, Zeta Beta Sorority also donated $3,500 to Fostering Connections during their State of Florida Conference at the World Golf Village Renaissance Resort.
“It is an honor to be supported by this incredible organization of women that has donated over $8 million and impacted more than 5 million people through their work in the community,” said Aubrie Simpson-Gotham, founder and CEO at Fostering Connections. “The sisters of Zeta Phi Beta are all inspirational leaders working tirelessly to support their communities and make a difference throughout the world. I look forward to continuing to grow our partnership with Zeta Phi Beta.”
The donation will support educational programs and enrichment scholarships for youth impacted by foster care or trauma in Northeast Florida.
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority is partnering with Fostering Connections in 2023 to support their Career Readiness Academy program and provide mentorship for students.
Fostering Connections is a nonprofit organization that supports children and families in the Northeast Florida region within foster care or impacted by trauma by providing tools and resources to aid in educational, career and life success. Established in 2019, Fostering Connections serves children impacted by foster care or trauma in pre-K through grade 12 in St. Johns, Duval, Putnam, Flagler and Volusia counties. In 2022, Fostering Connections served more than 300 youth across Northeast Florida.
For more information on Zeta Phi Beta Sorority and supporting Fostering Connections, go to zphib1920.org and fosteringconnectionsfl.org.
