The 2020s
2020
The Zonta Club of Milwaukee marked 94 years of dedicated service in 2020. During this past year, despite the continued coronavirus pandemic, we continued to support mission of “Empowering Women through Service and Advocacy” by supporting local and international projects/initiatives through financial contributions, grants, scholarships and in-kind donations.
In 2020, Foundation award seven (7) grants to local non-profit organizations using $19,000 from our 2019 Fundraiser profits.
Unfortunately, due to the world-wide pandemic we had to postpone our annual Spring fundraiser to September of 2020. Through the incredible support of our members, friends and community partners, the Club raised funds when the area was clear of the disease. Our annual fashion show fundraiser was titled “Around the World: Empowering Women & Girls for Another 100 Years.” Two-thirds of these funds were allocated to support local grants, scholarships and projects designed to empower women and girls in the Greater Milwaukee area. The remaining one-third of funds raised supported the global initiatives of Zonta International.
The Racial Justice Committee issued a Statement of Solidarity to Eliminate Racism:
We are living in challenging times. The COVID19 virus demands a response and the Zonta Club of Milwaukee put an emergency giving plan in place in June. However, it's not an accident that the incidence of virus and deaths are disproportionately impacting people of color in hyper -segregated Milwaukee as well as the rest of the US. It's the result of systemic racism that puts people of color at risk -- health, education, economics, judicial, etc. - and prevents them from reaching full potential. It's time we recognized systemic racism as a key barrier to the empowerment of women and families.
Systemic racism is the chief barrier to the empowerment of women in much of the world and, in this country, black American women and girls in particular. As an organization dedicated to the empowerment of women and girls, it is incumbent on us to not only make a public statement against racism but also to advocate actions to eliminate it, now and on an ongoing basis.
Empowering women and girls must mean all women and girls. Without racial justice, real empowerment is impossible. Let us work to eliminate racism as a barrier to the empowerment of women and girls.
2021
The Zonta Club of Milwaukee marked 95 years of dedicated service in 2021. Despite the continued coronavirus pandemic, we enthusiastically embraced our mission of “Empowering Women through Service and Advocacy” by supporting local and international projects/initiatives through financial contributions, grants, scholarships and in-kind donations.
The Club Foundation disbursed a total of $28,150 to support local agencies, local scholarships, and the Zonta International Foundation, raised via our 2020 online auction, other donations, and drawing from our reserves. Five incredible agencies received $21,000 in grant money in 2021. We also supported three local $1000 scholarships and donated $4,150 to Zonta International Foundation. We presented the agency grants at our October 23, 2021 fundraiser: Empowering Women and Girls Here and Around the World.
In 2021, the Club continued its partnership with Neu-Life Community Development, an agency that provides youth development programming for the children of the Lindsay Heights neighborhood through hands-on service and funding, such as:
- Supplying school supplies and backpacks for 90 elementary & middle school youth;
- Donating 54 toys for the elementary children through the Holiday Gift Drive;
- Launching a new service project donating books for youth; and
- Garden clean-up with Neu-Life staff and youth.
Club members donated clothing, linens, and gift certificates for women at Sojourner. The Zonta Club of Milwaukee participated in the District 6 Blanket Project by providing 101 blankets and sheet sets to the Milwaukee Cathedral Center, a homeless shelter for women and children. Guests of the Cathedral Center who move to permanent housing each receive a set of sheets and a blanket when they leave. The club members also provided a Mother’s Day meal in 2021 to the women at Cathedral Center.
We resumed our annual Zonta Says No to Violence Against Women Silent March, held October 4, 2021, to remember victims of domestic violence in Wisconsin. The event received substantial media coverage, and we supported it with social media postings and links. We also supported Zonta International’s Zonta Says No to Violence Against Women’s 16 Days of Activism (November 16-December 10) with posts as well.
2022
The year was a period of transition, emerging from the lingering effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Nevertheless, the club enthusiastically continued to embrace the mission of “Empowering Women Worldwide through Service and Advocacy” by supporting local and international projects, initiatives, financial contributions, grants, and scholarships. A total of $32,981 was disbursed.
In 2022, the Zonta Club of Milwaukee continued its collaboration and support of Neu-Life Community Development, a nonprofit agency that provides after school & summer, prevention, and workforce development programming to youth in the Milwaukee Lindsay Heights neighborhood, through hands-on service, and support. Support included 50 filled backpacks for Back-to-School celebration, holiday gifts, Annual Art Show participation, and a Book Drive for the Neu-Life reading program and library.
As part of our District-wide food poverty project, Zonta Milwaukee Club undertook two food drives to fight food poverty in our area (New Berlin and Saint Alphonsus) and organized a food drive at the District Fall Conference we hosted.
Zonta Club Milwaukee hosted the 2022 District 6 Fall Conference (October 7-9) at the Embassy Suites by Hilton in Milwaukee, 83 District members attended. The District 6 Fall Conference was kicked off with our 7th Annual Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women Silent Walk in memory of individuals who lost their lives to domestic violence in Wisconsin in 2021. The event was emotionally impactful and well attended.
2023
The Zonta Club of Milwaukee marked 97 years of dedicated service in 2023. During 2023 we enthusiastically embraced our mission of “building a better world for women and girls” by supporting local and international projects/initiatives through service, financial contributions, grants, scholarships, and in-kind donations.
The Foundation disbursed $33,044 to support local agencies, local scholarships, and the Zonta International Foundation, raised via our Fall Fashion Show and other donations. We selected 7 agencies to receive $22,000 in grant money in 2023. and donated $10,120.25 to Zonta International Foundation for Women. We also supported two local $1,000 scholarships.
The Club also continued its partnership with Neu-Life Community Development, an agency that provides youth development programming for the children of the Lindsay Heights neighborhood. Club activities included donating school supplies and 50 backpacks for elementary and middle school youth. The Club also expanded service and support outreach to include three additional local nonprofit agencies whose mission, vision, and service needs aligned with Zonta’s mission, selected agencies: Exploit No More (Freedom House), Allies for Teens in Foster Care, and Cathedral Center.
Advocacy actions included support for the ERA, Human Trafficking legislation, Ending Childhood Marriage legislation, and postings for 16 Days of Activism.
2024
In 2024, the Club celebrated 98 years of dedicated service to women and girls in the Greater Milwaukee area. We remained committed to our mission of individuals working together to build a better world for women and girls.
The Foundation disbursed $44,120.25 to support local agencies, local scholarships, and the Zonta International Foundation for Women. These funds were raised at our Fall Fashion Show event and other donations from various sources. We awarded one local $2,000 scholarship and donated $10,120.25 to the Zonta International Foundation for Women.
The Club continued its partnership with Neu-Life Community Development, donating to the Back-to-School Service Project with school supplies and 50 backpacks. Also noteworthy is our support of the Neu-Life and Our Next Generation partnership of their Neu-STEPP healthy relationships and sex trafficking education and awareness program. Over 60 youth attended their Summer of Healing Celebration.
Allies for Teens in Foster Care provides support for older children living in foster care in Milwaukee County. Club members donated $460 to the Zonta Foundation for support of the Allies for Teen’s Art Program in May of 2024; female health care products for the teens in September; and holiday gifts, including blankets, Nike socks, and $25 Target gift certificates in November.
The Women’s Center of Waukesha received towels, diapers, personal care items, and non-perishable food items donated by the Club in October of 2024. The donated food aligns with the Zonta District 6 2024-25 focus on food insecurity.
The Advocacy Committee, using the Club Newsletters and the 16 Days of Activism messages, covered domestic violence, human trafficking, Safe Harbor legislation, women’s equality, mental health of high school girls, women’s health, Girl Power, child marriage, period poverty, cyberviolence, climate change, D.E.I., and the Equal Rights Amendment. Members were provided with the link to their state legislators, so that they can voice their opinions about upcoming state legislation.
Lastly, it was in 2024 that the Club was able to help organize and charter a Z Club at the University School of Milwaukee.