Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. has a history of present programs that will benefit communities such as Stork’s Nest, Challenger Kids and the National Education Foundation. Keeping with this history, Zeta Phi Beta is launching a new program called Z-HOPE (Zetas Helping Others To Excel).

Z-HOPE is a national outreach program that targets specific areas in the community. There are five primary demographics of Z-HOPE: women, youth, seniors, men and international women. The program focuses on depression, physical activity, literacy, parenting skills and financial aid.

In an effort to present the national program to the community, Zeta Phi Beta will begin by presenting a program to benefit infants. On Nov. 16, Zeta Phi Beta, in partnership with the March of Dimes, will launch Zeta Prematurity Awareness Sunday.

Zeta Prematurity Awareness Sunday serves as the sorority’s effort to support the March of Dimes in its five-year, $75 million prematurity campaign. The goals of this event are to increase public awareness of the problem of prematurity and to decrease incidences of premature birth. The members of Zeta Phi Beta will be sharing information about prematurity with members of church congregations all over the United States.

Also on Nov. 18, the March of Dimes will extend the message across the country when they launch the first Prematurity Awareness Day with an online campaign to alert Americans to this escalating health problem. By visiting the March of Dimes Web site (www.marchofdimes.com) on Nov. 18, visitors will register their concern for the more than 470,000 babies born too soon each year. CIGNA, one of the campaign's sponsors, will donate $1 for each click (up to $150,000) in order to raise awareness.