Black & Gold Campaign

Black & Gold Campaign

The Zeta Theta Lambda Foundation, Inc. (ZTLF) is a 501 (c) (3)  corporation and the charitable arm of the Zeta Theta Lambda (Harrisburg, PA-Alumni) Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.  ZTLF's mission is to promote "manly deeds, scholarship and love for all mankind" throughout the greater Harrisburg, PA Capital Region.  The Harrisburg PA School District (HSD) has been identified as a "distressed district" by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.  This status places the district at risk to be "taken over" by the department and placed under very strict academic performance guidelines. In fact, HSD ranks next to last out of almost 500 school districts in Pennsylvania.

HSD is a predominently black and hispanic district and has been subject to falling academic performance for many years.  The deteriorating academic condition has resulted in a feeling of hopelessness by many HSD students.  In fact, an HSD graduate who was granted a football athletic scholarship to attend Akron University recently stated that his athletic ability allowed him to "escape from the hellhole of inner city Harrisburg."

In announcing his "My Brother's Keeper" Initiative, President Barack Obama stated that black youths "are more likely to be suspended from school, less likely to be able to read and almost certain to encounter the criminal justice system as a perpetrator or a victim."

In order to help reverse this trend of academic failure, ZTLF initiated the Black & Gold Campaign in April 2014. The Black & Gold Campaign is designed to raise $150,000 in order to build or renovate a 1,800 square foot structure in inner city Harrisburg so that ZTLF can more effectivly run its elementary level academic tutoring, teen mentoring (middle school) and college prep (high school) programs. ZTLF further envisions that this facility can be used to provide community education seminars and presentations.  The facility is also necessary to serve as a corporate headquarters and provide classrooms, meeting and study areas.  Space is also needed to house computers and other educational equipment.

Although ZTLF has provided some of these programs periodically in the past, we believe that a permanent presence in the community is necessary in order to achieve significant impact.  Moreover, in order to achieve lasting results, HSD students need the daily tutoring and mentoring that only a permanent facility can provide.  This facility will also allow the students to escape from the streets for several hours after school.

The members of ZTLF have  demonstrated their commitment to the Black & Gold Campaign by donating $7,000 from their personal funds to the campaign in 2014.  Similar amounts will be donated each year by the ZTLF members until the Black & Gold Campaign target ($150,000) is reached. 

ZTLF believes that the "payback" on this $150,000 investment will be significant.  Don't miss this opportunity to both respond to critical educational and social needs in the Harrisburg Capital Region and partner with the nation's preeminent organization of college educated African American men (Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity).  If you decide to donate, please inform a friend or colleague about this campaign. Give to the Black & Gold Campaign today!