FGCU Student Government

______________________________________________________
To:

Dominic Volpi, SGA President, FGCU

CC:

Dr. Michele Yovanovich, Dean of Student Affairs

Dr. J. Mike Rollo, Vice President of Student Affairs

From:

Haley Wysenski, Student, FGCU

Date:

March 21, 2016

Subject:

Funding for Pink Ribbon Cheer Classic

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, exceeded only by
lung cancer. About 1 in 8 U.S. women will develop invasive breast cancer over the course
of her lifetime. This year, an estimated 246,660 new cases of invasive breast cancer were
expected to be diagnosed in U.S. women, along with 61,000 new cases of non-invasive
(in situ) breast cancer (breastcancer.org). Breast cancer is most common in women, but
about 2,600 cases of invasive cancer were expected to be diagnosed in men this year; that
is about 1 in every 1,000 U.S. males. Compared to males, a womans risk of breast cancer
approximately doubles if she has a first-degree relative (mother, sister, daughter) who has
been diagnosed with breast cancer. Less than 15% of women who get breast cancer have
a family member diagnosed with it. The most significant risk factors for breast cancer are
one, being a woman and two, growing older.
I believe that Florida Gulf Coast University should host a Pink Ribbon Cheer Classic to
support breast cancer in our surrounding area. Pink Ribbon Cheer Classic is a cheer and
dance exhibition to raise money for Zeta Tau Alphas Philanthropy: breast cancer
awareness, research, and education (ztapinkribboncheerclassic.com). The event was
created in 2001 by Kim Caputo James in Youngstown, Ohio, and has been happening
ever since. Kim hoped to raise money and awareness for ZTAs National Philanthropy,
breast cancer awareness, by combining her two passions for her sorority and
cheerleading. The event has risen over one-million dollars for the cause in the last fifteen
years, and the numbers only keep multiplying each year. In 2011, the event cost roughly
$10,000 to put on, but when the outcome raises over a hundred-thousand dollars in just
one day, that number seems like nothing. Youngstown States PRCC is a day-long event in
which over ninety cheerleading squads are invited to pay a registration fee to perform a
three to five minute routine and dedicate it to women who have either survived breast
cancer or live on in their memory (sga.ysu.edu/agenda).
ZTA at Youngstown State vs. Florida Gulf Coast
Zeta Tau Alpha is a women's fraternity dedicated to sisterhood, service, social, and
scholastic achievement. The purpose of Zeta Tau Alpha is to intensify friendship, promote
happiness among its members, to perform good deeds, and to mold sisters opinions in
hopes to build a purer and nobler womanhood across the world. PRCC would

Dominic Volpi

March 21, 2016

be a little different than a sororitys usual event because the alumni would be involved as
well. The Zeta Tau Alpha Alumni Chapter at Florida Gulf Coast University is an
organization dedicated to continuing the tradition of Zeta Tau Alpha beyond the college
walls. Their university chapter meets weekly for social activities, meetings, and service,
and currently has about 220 initiated members. If an upcoming school like FGCU could
hold an event similar to that at YSU, I think it would be a great way to connect the
university with the community and get our name out there in a positive way. Also, all
those that participate and are looking for service learning hours will benefit from this
experience. The Youngstown Collegiate Chapter, on the campus of Youngstown State
University, was honored for the most outstanding Greek Fundraiser the past nine years,
for best campus wide fundraising the past six years, and has won numerous National and
Local awards for Service, Fundraising, Scholarship, and programming. The ZTA chapter
was even awarded Youngstown State University's Sorority of the Year, which marked
their 6th year for this honor. I want Florida Gulf Coast to be recognized for awards like
these, and I have confidence that this event will make that happen.
Problems with Current ZTA Events
The Zeta Tau Alpha Collegiate chapter at Florida Gulf Coast University currently puts on
a few philanthropy events a semester, including two large events a year, but they get
nowhere near the amount of participation from the school and community as they should.
The small events are usually just sisters and their friends from other organizations going
to eat at a particular restaurant, donating a portion of the sales to the philanthropy, and the
same usually goes for members at large events when the majority of them end up getting
stuck purchasing their own tickets they intended to sell. Members already have to pay
enough money towards their dues that they should not have to add additional expenses
for their fundraisers as well. Another problem we currently have is the way people view
and act towards sororities. Sororities are what use to unite a group of women together, in
a time when women did not have much power, but now it seems to be what tears them
apart. If FGCUs chapter could hold an event like Pink Ribbon Cheer Classic at
Youngstown State, with that great of an impact on the community, I believe it would
change many views people have of Greek life. Also, the ZTA chapter would have a lot
better outcome simply for the fact that they would be incorporating the community who
has probably been touched many times by this horrible disease.
Proposed Solutions for ZTA Events
The impact events and fundraising has on reaching the goal of our philanthropy is
incredible. To achieve greater benefits at FGCU, I propose that we choose from one of
three possible options: holding a Pink Ribbon Cheer Classic of our own at the basketball
arena in Alico, seeking out another location nearby, but that would require extra funds, or
teaming up with another ZTA chapter nearby, so we can get involved in larger events and
expand our name across the surrounding area.
Prospected Event
If we were to put on a Pink Ribbon Cheer Classic here in Fort Myers, I think the event
should take place in Florida Gulf Coast Universitys Arena during the month of October,
breast cancer awareness month. A Sunday would be the best day of the week for this

Dominic Volpi

March 21, 2016

event to take place to avoid time conflicts with other sports games and practices, since it
will be basketball season. Since this is an all day event, registration would begin at
7:45am, so the routines could start precisely at 8:30am. All cheerleading squads in the
surrounding area would be invited to the day long event, which would not only get the
students and organizations on campus involved, but also the community participating in
the cause. Each spectator would pay a $5.00 admission fee, all benefiting the cause,
except for breast cancer survivors who would enter free of charge. Squads and Student
Organizations would be awarded for a variety of things including: team spirit, having the
most spectators attend the event, and raising money for our cause in their communities.
Another way we would raise money for the cause is allowing individual cheerleaders to
enter a jump or tumble off competition in which they pay a $10 registration fee and are
awarded by judges based on the best cheerleading skills. Also included in the day of the
event would be apparel sales, a concession stand, Chinese raffles, and recognition of high
school seniors and breast cancer survivors.
Benefits from PRCC
Not only is an event of this caliber beneficial to those who have been affected by breast
cancer, but it also holds many benefits for its host school, Florida Gulf Coast University.
PRCC has an impact on all who attend and shows how students of FGCU can positively
impact the campus and community through this event. This is a wonderful way for
prospective students who may consider attending FGCU to see a part of the university
and a student organization, specifically Zeta Tau Alpha, positively contributing to the
community. With such a diverse group of people who attend, multiple cheer teams from
all over the area of different backgrounds and communities, students and alumna of
FGCU, and members of the community of all ages, Pink Ribbon Cheer Classic will touch
a variety of people in so many ways. Most importantly it unites others for the common
purpose of raising as much money as possible to reach our event goal each year.
Recommendation and Conclusion
I recommend that FGCU hosts an event like Pink Ribbon Cheer Classic to get the
students, faculty, and community all involved in reaching one common goal. If this
request of $10,000 seems like a lot, I want you to know that we will be seeking sponsors,
partnerships, and other fundraising opportunities. An idea I had was to ask the closest
Chick-Fil-A if they would donate a portion of each strawberry milkshake that they sold
throughout the month of October to support this event. We could also hold a Pink Out
Day on campus where the whole campus would be notified to wear pink and we could
spread the word about ways to prevent this traumatizing disease. There would also be a
Panera break pink ribbon bagel eating contest and face painting for donations on this
day.
Implementing this event would provide many benefits for not only Zeta Tau Alpha, but
also FGCU as a whole. Sisters are starting to lose sight of what our sorority is really all
about and I think that this event could provide hope to its currents members, alumni, and
the community.
If my little hometown, Youngstown, could do it, I know Fort Myers can too! I hope this
request meets with your approval and hope you will take the time to consider hosting this

Dominic Volpi

March 21, 2016

life-changing event. I would be willing to present this proposal in front of the Student
Government Senate if there is any space available in the agenda. I look forward to
hearing from you at your earliest convenience.

Dominic Volpi

March 21, 2016

Charts and Images

I have attached two images below that I found on Youngstown State Universitys official
events website. This site showed the agenda for the 2011-2012 school year, but is the
most recent documents I could find. There was also not a document that showed the full
breakdown of costs for the event.

Item
Programs
Beverages
Pepperoni Rolls/Food
Survivor Ceremony Supplies
Decorations
Event Security

Cost
$2,000
$1,000
$2,500
$500
$1,000
$3,000

Dominic Volpi

March 21, 2016

Works Cited
"Agenda for September 26, 2011." Youngstown State University. Web. 10 Mar. 2016.
"Member Login." Zeta Tau Alpha Pink Ribbon Cheer Classic. Web. 10 Mar. 2016.
"U.S. Breast Cancer Statistics | Breastcancer.org." Breastcancer.org. Web. 14 Mar. 2016.