At our St. Patrick's Day meeting, the Zonta Club of Bonita Springs will award $13,000 in grants to seven local non-profits fighting domestic violence and human trafficking and working to improve women's health.

 

The grants, primarily the result of proceeds from the Club's Inaugural Glass Slipper Ball Gala held last fall, will specifically target girls, teens and women of all ages in the Bonita Springs-Estero community.

 

"I am thrilled we are able to award these funds for such important and targeted projects. All seven of these grants will make a tremendous difference in the lives of the young ladies and women served. Our Club's mission is to improve the quality of lives of women at all stages of life and these grants will do exactly that," said Club President, Y'Vonne Murray.

 

Three of the grants, including one going to the Club's Service Initiative Group, focus on fighting domestic violence and human trafficking. Three others focus on improving women's overall health, including breast health care and providing financial assistance to those battling cancer. The last one helps middle school aged young ladies in Bonita Springs develop an interest in engineering, math, and science as an impetus to higher education and highly-skilled careers. Importantly, the Club promotes this exact goal by awarding a scholarship to an area woman who is continuing her education in math, science or business, fields of study which reflect the career of Amelia Earhart, the most famous Zonta member Zonta International. The 2^nd Annual Amelia Earhart Luncheon, which supports the Scholarship Fund, is being held March 18^th from 11:30 a.m-1:30 p.m. at the Bonita Bay Club. For more information, visit the Club's web site, www.ZontaBonitaSprings.org.

 

During the meeting, a representative of each group will receive their check and make a brief presentation about the project the grants will fund.