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Zonta Club of Bonita Springs-Estero Helps Teens in Recent Fundraisers, is Accepting Scholarship and Grant Applications for 2018

Feb 15, 2018 11:28AM ● By Kevin
Zonta Bonita Springs-Estero group members raised more than $900 of gifts and gift cards for the teens at ACT – Abuse Counseling and Treatment in December, according to a recent release by the organization. ACT is a private not for profit agency committed to serving victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking.

In the January 2018 meeting the Bonita Springs High School cheerleading coaches Autumn Holloway and Amanda Janssen were presented a check in the amount of $2,275 from Zonta Club of Bonita Springs-Estero to assist with the cost of the cheerleading uniforms. The club, according to Mercedes Padin, "feels cheerleading promotes self-esteem and teamwork in the young ladies of the community."

The club holds seasonal service projects throughout the year. In Fall 2017, they collected and donated numerous pairs of eye glasses to the Florida Lions Eye Clinic in Bonita Springs. The frames are used to make new glasses for needy children and families. Prior to that, the summer project involved collection of women’s toiletries to be distributed by Interfaith Charities. They collected boxes and boxes of items that cannot be purchased by food stamps. They also participated in Meals of Hope in June, packing 378 meals in two hours.

In addition to the fundraisers, the Zonta Club is starting to accept scholarship and grant applications for 2018.

As part of the organization's mission to empower women and improve their circumstances at all stages of life, Zonta Club provides scholarships to high school students entering college as well as women going back to school to improve employment opportunities.

Applications can be filled out at ZontaBonitaSprings.com and are due on May 1. To date, the club has provided grants to the following organizations:
  • ACT – Abuse Counseling and Treatment
  • Amigos en Cristo, Inc. dba Amigos Center
  • Florida Gulf Coast Foundation
  • Foundation for Lee County Public Schools, Inc.
  • Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida
  • Human Trafficking Awareness Partnerships, Inc.
  • Interfaith Caregivers of South lee, Inc.
  • LIGHT of SW Florida
  • Lymphedema Resources, Inc.
  • Our Mothers Home
  • Partners for Breast Cancer
The Zonta Club of Bonita Springs-Estero is an organization of business and professional women dedicated to improving the circumstances of women at all stages of life, locally and globally. The club of professional businesswomen joins others to work tirelessly to empower women worldwide.

Active in 66 countries, the organization has 30,000 members worldwide across more than 1,200 clubs. The Bonita Springs club was chartered in 1994 and started being recognized for covering both Bonita Springs and Estero in 2017.

The club will hold its annual Woman of the Year fundraising luncheon at the Bonita Bay Club on Tuesday, April 17 (information attached in above PDF).

"Each year the Zonta Club of Bonita Springs-Estero honors an outstanding local woman for her exceptional philanthropic work and her contributions to our two communities – Bonita Springs and Estero," Padin said. "This event is the main fundraiser to provide grants and scholarships."

The guest speaker this year is Amira Fox, Chief Assistant State Attorney for the 20th Judicial circuit, who is a long time mentor for Girls Going Places and a Rotarian.

Zonta Bonita Springs-Estero Executive Committee

  • President: Nancy Dalaskey
  • Vice President: Trish Leonard
  • Secretary: Kim Hastings
  • Treasurer: Shelley Anderson
  • Director: Karen Berens
  • Director: Maribel Slabaugh
  • Director/Past President: Sara McCallum