If you are a local non-profit with an innovative program that can make a difference in the struggle to combat violence against area women, support education opportunities for females of all ages or provide healthcare to women who cannot afford it, the Zonta Club of Bonita Springs, Inc. would like to hear from you. The Club is now accepting grant and volunteer service hour request applications from area non-profits working in these critical areas of concern.
The Club has also opened the application process for its annual scholarship awarded to an area woman continuing her education in the fields of math, science or business.
The deadline for grant applications is 4 p.m., Wednesday, February 1, 2012 while the deadline for the applications for the scholarship application is Friday,
March 23, 2012. Requests for volunteer service hours are accepted all year.
The application forms for each of these categories can be found under the Scholarships & Grants tab. If you have a project that would fit these areas of concern or have questions, please contact the Chair of the Club’s Grant Committee, Denese Mattrey, at dmattrey@embarqmail.com or 239-989-3453.
“We are proud to be able to grant funds for exciting projects to local groups working in these three critical areas of concern that are the major focus of our Club—violence against women, education and scholarship and health. Over the years, we have awarded more than $100,000 in such grants and scholarships It is very clear that the funds presented and the service hours we contribute make a real difference in the lives of women right here in our own community,” says Patty Gift, Club President.
Funds for the grants to combat violence come from the proceeds of the Third Annual Glass Slipper Ball featuring The Best of the Chefs held November 18th at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort. More than 300 guests attended the gala featuring signature hors d’oeuvres and dazzling desserts prepared by the top chefs in Southwest Florida, exciting live and silent auctions, the popular Mystery Bags, a Basket of Cheer and dancing to music provided by the Brett Foreman Band.
This past June, the Club awarded nearly $14,000 in grants to six local non-profits working to protect area girls and women from violence, sexual abuse and human trafficking. The projects selected work with females of all ages, from elementary school age on and concentrate on promoting self-esteem, imparting the knowledge and skills to avoid violence as well as compassionately dealing with the trauma and scars that result from being a victim of abuse. Each plays an important role in the lives of those served and make a positive difference in our community.
At the same meeting, the Club also awarded scholarships of $2,000 each to two dynamic and talented area women—one of whom aspires to become a pediatrician and the other a registered nurse. Funds for the scholarships come from the proceeds of the Club’s Annual Scholarship Luncheon held each spring. Over the past three years, the Club has awarded scholarships to four area women continuing their education in math, science or business fields which reflect the career of Amelia Earhart, the most famous member of Zonta International.
In August, the Club presented health grants of $2,000 each to Lymphedema Resources Inc. of Estero and Partners for Breast Cancer of Ft. Myers. These funds are the proceeds from our Club’s summer Hurricane Par-Tee Golf Tournament which benefits local healthcare charities serving underinsured and noninsured women.
