Established in 2001 as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, the Zetas of Charlotte Benevolent Foundation is funded through planned gifts, annual contributions and grants. The foundation’s mission is to secure and manage resources that enable the chapter’s philanthropic support to the Charlotte community. The Benevolent Foundation implements cultural, educational, and civic initiatives to help people excel and reach their full potential.
Since its inception, Zetas of Charlotte Benevolent Foundation has partnered with AARP, Adopt-aHighway, American Cancer Society, March of Dimes, MedAssist, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Autism Charlotte and others.
n addition to the work it achieves with national, regional and local partners, Zetas of Charlotte Benevolent Foundation service activities and events include Bowing for Babies, Easter Egg Hunt, Adopt-aSchool, elder care support for local senior living communities, and annual scholarships for area high school students.
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
Delta Zeta Chapter
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. was founded on January 16, 1920, on the campus of Howard University on the principles of Scholarship, Service, Sisterhood and Finer Womanhood. Our founders, Arizona Cleaver Stemons, Pearl Anna Neal, Myrtle Tyler Faithful, Viola Tyler Goings and Fannie Pettie Watts, collectively known as the “Five Pearls, set out to establish a sisterhood that would help raise the consciousness of their people, encourage the highest standards of academic and personal achievement, and address the societal ills disproportionately affecting disadvantaged communities.
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Delta Zeta Chapter was chartered on December 4, 1934 by five (5) dynamic woman: Ethel Butler, Thelma Harris Hunt, Lucille Robinson, Laura Davidson Rollings and Sarah Scott Schofield, with the vision that service to our community will be our greatest legacy.
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
Delta Zeta Chapter is the longest standing, preeminent chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. in Charlotte, NC has been recognized for its Z-Hope (Zetas Helping Other People Excel) initiatives, raising funds for the March of Dimes and its youth mentorship. It is the home to over 125 professional women who each believe in the principles of Scholarship, Service, Sisterhood and the ideals of Finer Womanhood.
Greetings & Welcome
Syreeta Atiase, President
Zetas of Charlotte of Benevolent Foundation
Mistress of Ceremony
Candace L. Jones, Vice President
Community Impact Award Presentations
Jessica Simpson & Brittany Strickland, Event Co-Chairpersons
Tea, Mingle & Fellowship
Speaker Introduction
Speaker
Tijua “Miss T” Robinson, Community Leader
Presentation of Sarah Scott Schofield Scholarships
Adrienne Trent & Asia Wade
Request for Support
Karen Gipson, Board Member
Zeta National Education Foundation
Final Remarks
Sta’Cee Thomas, Event Chair
The Ethel Butler Finer Womanhood Award recognizes a woman in the Charlotte and surrounding area who has made exceptional contributions to the community through initiatives that align with the goals and objectives of the foundation.
The Thelma Harris Hunt Community Impact Award honors a nonprofit organization in Charlotte and the surrounding area for its outstanding impact on the local community, and that showcases remarkable commitment to civic engagement and community betterment.
The Lucille Robinson Partnership Service Award honors an organization that is a local partner of the Zetas of Charlotte Benevolent Foundation. This organization supports service-based initiatives that align with the goals of the foundation and with our programmatic initiatives of its affiliated organization of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
The Laura Davidson Rollings Award for Outstanding Service recognizes an individual or organization in the Charlotte and surrounding area that has made a significant contribution to the advancement of initiatives that align with the goals and objectives of the foundation.
Tangella
“Ms. Tan” Stephens
Tangella Stephens is a native Charlottean who has spent all of her life in her hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina. A graduate of South Mecklenburg High School, Tangella maintained the Dean’s list while pursuing her Early Childhood Education Associates Degree at Central Piedmont Community College.
A daddy’s girl, Tangella was raised by her paternal grandmother “Granny” and father Reverend Arthur Moore III. Tangella has two sisters and one brother. She is the proud mother of two daughters, Pamela and Latisha, and two grandsons; Marcus and Markhi. Tangella was raised in the church and currently attends Warehouse 242 in west Charlotte where she is an active member.
Known in the community as Ms. Tan, she began her professional career in childcare as a preschool teacher at KinderCare before transitioning to Greater Enrichment Program as an afterschool Site Coordinator.
With more than 40 years of experience working with children, Ms. Tan remains committed to helping our youth become their best selves. Ms. Tan has served in various leadership roles including Girl Scout Troop Leader, Youth Group Leader, and Miss GEP Pageant Chairperson. She is currently chairing a special overnight camp trip project for 60 students. The students will be awarded scholarships to attend camp in the North Carolina mountains for a week this summer.
Faith in God serves as the foundation for Ms. Tan’s life. She is a servant leader for the community and children. She believes that we have to meet people at their needs and help all of God’s children. She stands firm on the model, “Each one; teach one,” and tells everyone that respect for others will take you a long way.
When she is not helping children or serving the needs of the community, Ms. Tan enjoys self-care, while watching Lifetime movies and eating popcorn. She loves spending time with her grandboys and family. She is committed to serving God’s people and doing what he sees fit for her to do.
Block Love Charlotte
Block Love Charlotte is a group of individuals from all backgrounds, races, and beliefs that have come together to meet the needs held in common by our houseless neighbors.
Their Vision is to improve the quality of life for individuals that suffer from homelessness, domestic violence, and single fathers; one block at a time. This is accomplished by establishing partnerships with businesses and agencies to fulfill their mission of providing restoration, resources, education, and tools to help individuals become self-sufficient while advocating for human rights.
Block Love Charlotte collects donations that they take daily to the corner of North Tryon and Montford Point in Uptown Charlotte, which they have officially dubbed as “The Block.” These donations help them provide clothing, food, tents, sleeping bags, toiletries, socks, shoes and etc. to those in need.
Block Love Charlotte has remained consistent with their mission and has served the Charlotte community since March 8, 2020.
Autism Charlotte
Autism Charlotte was founded in 2006 by five parents, all directly impacted and inspired by their own special children affected by autism. Facing the many day-to-day challenges common in caring for a child with autism, these parents experienced firsthand the significant lack of programs, services, and support in our community. They committed themselves to helping other families facing similar challenges but likewise finding few answers and often feeling alone. With the support of many friends, family, and community partners, Autism Foundation of the Carolinas was established as a 501C3 and was later renamed Autism Charlotte. The organization became well known for programs such as iCan Bike and Inclusion-based after school. Over the years, Autism Charlotte’s programs, services, presence, and impact has continued to grow and evolve based on the incredible foundation established by our founders.
In 2015, Dr. Valerie Morgan Iseah was appointed as the organization’s inaugural Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Iseah, a native of Patterson, New Jersey, and a lifelong academic enthusiast, brings over 30 years of experience in the human services sector. Her career has spanned various areas, including government and non-profit sectors, with a significant focus on autism services in the past eight years.
Under Dr. Iseah’s leadership, Autism Charlotte has seen remarkable growth. Notably, amidst the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Iseah spearheaded a financial campaign and initiated a construction project to establish Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s first and only Academy for Students with Autism. In its inaugural year, the academy has enrolled over 260 students, aged 3 to 23, offering a range of programs from preschool to youth development and transition to adulthood initiatives.
Black Nurses Rock Greater Charlotte
Black Nurses Rock Foundation was founded in 2014. Black Nurses Rock is an organization with a focus on fostering a positive environment of professional growth and development for those in the nursing profession. They provide support and mentorship for nurses in an effort to elevate their profession and improve their communities.
The Black Nurses Rock Greater Charlotte Chapter was founded in 2019. Their goal is to bridge the gap in health disparities through volunteer efforts, mentoring, and educating the most at-risk populations in their community while collaborating with various local and national organizations such as the Zetas of Charlotte, the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society, the American Diabetes Association and many others. Black Nurses Rock is a nonprofit, 501©3 organization.
TIJUA “MISS T” ROBINSON COMMUNITY LEADER
Tijua Robinson was born and raised in Washington, DC. She studied at Johnson C. Smith University located in Charlotte, NC, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology. She continued her academic career at Bowling Green State University located in Bowling Green, Ohio, where she earned her Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice and focused on the causation and prevention of juvenile delinquency. During her time as a student, she developed a passion for assisting youth and families who faced financial, educational, and socio-economic barriers in one of the low-income communities, the Grier Heights Community, located in Charlotte, NC. She has served the Grier Heights Community since 2008 through creating programs, mentoring, and providing support to families and children. Robinson is currently the Director of the Grier Heights Community Center. She has received numerous awards and recognition for her commitment to community outreach and service. Those awards include: SAHMA’s “Sisson/Ownby Rising Star Award in 2014, being the three-time recipient of the Westminster Company’s “Life Improvement Award” for the most outstanding contribution to improving the lives of residents in 2014, 2016, and 2017, Novant Health’s Community Heroes Golden Stethoscope Award in 2019, Grier Heights Community Humanitarian Award recipient in 2019, Mayor’s Mentor Alliance “Mentor of the Year” recipient for 2021, one of Hyundai’s Hometown Heroes recipient in 2021, and most recently inducted into Johnson C. Smith University’s 40 under 40 for most outstanding Leadership 2021 cohort. Though she has received numerous awards for her commitment to the community, she believes that her greatest accomplishments are witnessing the success and improvement of the quality of life for individuals she has assisted.
SUPPORT CHARITABLE AND EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES.
The Zetas of Charlotte Benevolent Foundation is funded through planned gifts, annual contributions, and grants.
Donations can be made in the following ways:
Check made payable to Zetas of Charlotte Benevolent Foundation, via PayPal at: https://paypal.me/ZOCBF, or scan the QR Code below
In the Notes, add “Scholarship”
Kimberly Bell
Felicia Buchanan
Crystal Daniels Davis
Shaniqua Davis
Kashonda Geiger
Anna Mack
Nina Rudison
Lakiesha Torrence
Melisssa McIntyre-Brandley
President: Syreeta Atiase
Vice President: Candace L. Jones
Recording Secretary: Felicia Buchanan
Treasurer: Dana Posey-Webster
Financial Secretary: Catherine Miles
Candace L. Jones, Chair
Sta’Cee Thomas, Co-Chair
Kayla Clark
Deirdre Edwards
Hailey Gipson
Karen Gipson
Morgan Nettles
Nadaja Patterson
Sharrone Robinson
Jessica Simpson
Brittany Strickland
Adrienne Trent
Asia Wade
Shayla West
Zetas of Charlotte Benevolent Foundation and its members congratulates our 2024 Sarah Scott Schofield Scholarship recipients and Community Impact Award recipients.
Thank you to our speaker, Tijua “Miss T” Robinson, Dove Sponsor, businesses who purchased ads, Marriott Southpark Hotel, Scholarship Committee and all of our attendees for supporting our Afternoon Tea and making it a success.
Syreeta Atiase - President, Zetas of Charlotte
Candace L. Jones - Vice President, Zetas of Charlotte
Sta’Cee Thomas - Scholarship Co-Chair, Afternoon Tea Chair
Jessica Simpson - Afternoon Tea Co-Chair
Brittany Strickland - Afternoon Tea Co-Chair
