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ZETA PHI BETA SORORITY, INCORPORATED

[[image - black and white portrait photograph of Dr. Marjorie A. Costa]]

Rarely have the course of human events and the arrival of a strategic personality so fortunately coincided as in the health of New York and the arrival of Dr. Marjorie A. Costa.

Dr. Costa, currently the Assistant to the Administrator for Community Affairs in HEW's Health Service Administration, was the first woman to head a major Federal health program. In a prior position, she served as Director of HEW's National Center for Family Planning Services.

In 1972, she received the National Conference of Christians and Jews Brotherhood Award. In April 1974 Southeastern University in Washington, D.C., conferred upon her the degree of Doctor of Management and Administration, Honoris Causa, in recognition of the "dedication and outstanding service, that have made her one of this nation's preeminent health educators, and for her many major contributions as a manager and administrator of wide ranging national health programs in the Department of Health Education and Welfare and other health services".

Dr. Costa represented the United States at the Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East Population Conference in Tokyo, Japan, and was the leading U.S. delegate to two seminars sponsored by the United Nations on the Status of Women and Family Planning; one in Jakarta, Indonesia: and the other in Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic. She is listed in "Who's Who in America" where one may read about her as a fascinating woman whose biographical data is so long and so impressive as require pages just to list it.

What is most important at this moment is the message that she has for those who need to know that "it can be done in spite of the odds."

Dr. Costa went to work at the age of 15 years, and scaled the ladder of employment by way of pantry girl in a camp, factory worker, and as a secretary at all levels imaginable, to become a teacher in the area of speech defects - the youngest in New York City - and to serve on the faculty of Columbia University's School of Public Health, as an instructor in public health practices.

There is a boost in her story for those who feel that they have had more than their share of frustration; for she lived many years with frustration without losing her determination to conquer it. Sixteen years after her high school graduation, she decided that she wanted more for her life, and returned to school. She earned her B.A. degree in four years working during the day and studying at night. Ten years later she again went back to school and received her Master's degree in Public Health.

Her publications include "Information and Education in United States Family Planning Programs", "The Voice of Community", written with Francis C. Lindaman as co-author, and "Consumer Acceptance of Health Maintenance Organizations", co-authored with Claudia B. Galiher.

Dr. Costa feels that most young people can do what they wish if they are willing to pay the price in effort, self discipline and patience. She says with assurance, "If you really want to do something, you can; you just have to hang in there, take every knock as a boost and make each move a step forward."

We are thrilled with the privilege of presenting her as our speaker of the day and Woman of the Year.