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Women Build 2012: Zonta Club of Bonita Springs Renovating Home For Deserving Mom

You can make a big difference in the life of a local Mom by joining in and helping the Zonta Club of Bonita Springs, Inc. renovate a home for a deserving Bonita Springs woman as part of Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build 2012.

Taking place the week before Mother’s Day, the Bonita Springs Club, along with other Zonta Clubs from our area, will join with hundreds of women from Southwest Florida to hammer, paint, sweep–whatever it takes–to renovate a home for this Mom in need who is working hard to raise her family.

“Our Club is dedicated to improving the lives of local women and while over the years we have donated thousands of dollars and countless service hours to projects helping local women, this effort by far will have the most profound, direct positive impact of any. Giving this Bonita Mom a safe, virtually new home will mean the world to her and provide a sound, stable foundation for a better future life for herself and her family,” says Patty Gift, Club President.

“But to make this dream come true, the Club needs help from the local community. We cannot do it ourselves. Our fundraising goal is $50,000 and if you can look into your heart and donate whatever you can afford, together we can put the life of this family on tract to a bright future,” says Ms. Gift.

To learn more about the project, make a donation and earn the right to volunteer to be a part of this effort, please visit http://habitat4humanity.donorpages.com/WomenBuild2012/ZontaBonitaSprings/. You may also contact Ann Musselman, Chair of the Club’s UN-Service Initiatives Committee, who is leading this project at ann@golfexpress.org or 239-297-2926.

This is the second year in a row, Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties has sponsored the Women Build project, an effort to provide a deserving family with to safe, decent, affordable housing. Last year, 178 women contributed the funds and another 40 did the work to renovate a house. This year the organization hopes to provide three homes—two in Cape Coral and the one in Bonita Springs.

Zonta Club of Bonita Springs Now Accepting Grant, Service and Scholarship Applications

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.

Best of the Chefs Shine At Glass Slipper Ball

After tasting fabulous hors d’oeuvres and scrumptious desserts prepared by the best chefs Southwest Florida has to offer, guests at the Third Annual Glass Slipper Ball had a hard decision to make. But in the end, they voted The Capital Grille for the second year in a row as the People’s Choice Best Overall award.

In a hard-fought contest between the 19 chefs who participated in the Ball, sponsored by the Zonta Club of Bonita Springs, Inc. to raise funds to fight violence against women, guests also voted Solo Chef, Inc. Personal Chef & Catering Services as serving the Best Appetizer and Irresistible Confections the Best Dessert. The Ball was held last Friday (November 18, 2011) at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples.

The Capital Grille delighted guests with Kona Crusted Filet Mignon with Caramelized Shallot Butter and Lobster Mac ‘N’ Cheese. Solo Chef served Chicken and Waffles with our Own Twist while Irresistible Confections presented an Assortment of Truffles, Chocolate Champagne Mousse and Cabernet Sipping Chocolate.

“This was an amazing, successful event, a truly magical evening,” says Patty Gift, Club President. “The chefs, who so generously donated their services, prepared some of the finest bites and desserts I have ever tasted. Our 300 plus guests thoroughly enjoyed our beautiful Glass Slipper inspired decorations, our lovely pumpkin coach, the fantastic silent and live auction items and the great dance music provided by the Brett Foreman Band.

“Importantly, as a result, we are going to be able to award substantial grants to local non-profits who work hard to protect area women from all forms of violence including domestic and sexual abuse and human trafficking.

“This all would not have been possible without the outstanding support we received from companies who sponsored this special evening and those who contributed auction items and stunning floral decorations including Occasions of Naples, Driftwood Garden Center, The Ritz Carlton Resort of Naples and Whole Foods.

“The evening exceeded our expectations and we could not have done it without the tremendous community support we received. We particularly need to thank Comcast Spotlight, our Gold Sponsor; CamTell Multimedia, our Silver Sponsor; and Gulfshore Business, the Naples Daily News and Pinnacle Vodka, our Bronze sponsors,” says Ms. Gift. “We also need to thank the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort and its staff for hosting our Ball and for their assistance and all the hard work they put into ensuring our event went smoothly and was a success.”

During the Ball, Trish Leonard, a prominent area businesswoman, who for the past 30 years has tirelessly given from her heart supporting local charitable and civic causes, was honored as the Club’s 2011-2012 Woman of the Year. Ms. Leonard is a past Club President, Director of Marketing for Florida Gulf Coast University’s Small Business Development Center Office (SBDC) and President of TLC Marketing and Creative Services, her own firm.

Zonta Club of Bonita Springs Awards Health Grants

At our August meeting, health grants of $2,000 each were presented to Lymphedema Resources Inc. of Estero and Partners for Breast Cancer of Ft. Myers.  These funds are the proceeds from our Club’s June Hurricane Par-Tee Golf Tournament which benefits local healthcare charities serving underinsured and noninsured women

Lymphedema Resources Inc., a community-based, volunteer organization, raises awareness about Lymphedema, a chronic, debilitating condition in which excess fluid collects in tissues and causes swelling, generally in the arms and legs. This occurs after lymph vessels or lymph nodes have been removed by surgery or damaged by radiation, impairing normal drainage of lymphatic fluids. A major cause in women is removal or damage to a lymph node during treatment for breast cancer. The organization works to raise awareness of the potential for development of lymphedema and to assure availability of the resources for treatment.

Partners for Breast Cancer Care, a frequent recipient of Club health grants, provides financial support for diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer to women who are residents of Lee County who lack health insurance and have limited financial resources. Our funds will provide mammograms and treatment.