Bowling fundraiser rolls strike for healthy babies

ZETA PHI BETA SORORITY

Zeta Phi Beta sorority will host the 21st annual Bowling for Babies fundraiser Feb. 21 at AMF University Lanes.

Zeta Phi Beta sorority is bowling for healthy babies and moms.

Zetas of Charlotte will host the 21st annual Bowling for Babies Feb. 21 from 12-3 p.m. at AMF University Lanes, 5900 N. Tryon St. The fundraiser is a partnership with March of Dimes as advocates for mothers and babies affected by premature births.

Premature birth, which occurs before 37 weeks of pregnancy, is a leading cause of infant death in the United States and can lead to long term health challenges. 

“It is an initiative of our sorority but choosing this specific event and not just walking for March of Dimes is due to the fact that we have had some of our actual members affected by premature births,” said Chanda Wright, president of Delta Zeta chapter.

March of Dimes is a national nonprofit that focuses on improving maternal and infant health through funding research, neonatal support and advocating for policies that improve health care for families who have been affected.

According to March of Dimes, premature birth rates are highest for Black infants in North Carolina. With Bowling for Babies, the Zetas are raising awareness not only of health challenges in the Black community but also the disparities that come with them.

“We are looking for, other than, of course, having fun, just an overall sense of purpose and connection to what we are trying to do. The purpose, so that they have an understanding that prematurity is still something that impacts our community and our families in this area,” Wright said.

Over the years, the event has grown, and the Zetas want to expand it. 

“When we first began, we were really only reserving about 10 to 15 lanes in one of the AMF bowling lanes in the Charlotte area. We had a section of the bowling alley reserved, they still had their regular bowling going on while we're having our little event,” Wright said. “We progressed, but starting in 2020 is when we started selling out the whole bowling alley. So, all 40 lanes, and we've been at that level ever since.”

The chapter has raised more than $10,000 through Bowling for Babies and wants to launch future events. 

“We would like to find ways to improve how much we raise specifically, but overall with our donation efforts we do make an impressionable impact for prematurity and the March of Dimes,” Wright said. “We would like to continue to grow the impact that we have with fundraising, get additional sponsors, maybe go into tiered sponsorships.

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