Membership Drive Going On Now!
Since 1960, Zonta Club of Janesville has enhanced the community we live in through service and advocacy projects as well as fundraising efforts which provide scholarships to local women. Below are our current Service and Advocacy Projects. Interested in learning more? Join our Monthly Club Meeting on the first Tuesday of every month (excluding July/August). Contact us today for more information!
Service Projects:
Violence Against Women Programs
YWCA Alternatives to Violence: This program’s goal is meeting the crisis needs of domestic violence victims. Volunteers can answer the 24-hour helpline, listen, and provide support to callers and shelter residents. Zonta members contribute household items as requested and provide financial assistance for programming.
YWCA Transitional Living Program: This program’s goal is to help women make a successful transition from abusive relationships to violence-free homes and independent lives. Volunteers assist with child care, mentoring, and preparing welcome items. Zonta members contribute household items as requested, and service funds help meet emergency needs of the residents.
Women with a Vision Program
In this service project, initiated in 2012, Zonta collaborates with other agencies and foundations to provide scholarships and additional support to single mothers who intend to pursue education that will empower them to enter careers that provide family sustaining wages. Zonta members are part of the candidate selection committee.
Sexual Assault Recovery Program (SARP)
This project’s goal is to help women in the aftermath of sexual assault. Zonta members contribute toiletries as requested to help women retain & reclaim their dignity in clinical settings.
Literacy
The Janesville Literacy Connection: Club members can participate as volunteer tutors and with the annual Trivia for Literacy contest.
Fundraising
In order to support our service projects, members engage in fundraising activities. Members also track their fundraising hours during the year. Fundraising hours include time spent on the nut sale and the International Women’s Day Luncheon to raise funds in support of our service projects.
Z-Club Program
The Zonta Club of Janesville voted to assume the sponsorship of the Z-Club at Beloit Memorial High School after the Zonta Club of Beloit disbanded. Z-Clubs must be approved annually at the school. We stand ready to sponsor the Z-Club when it is authorized by the school.
Advocacy Projects:
The Zonta Club of Janesville engages in advocacy to improve the legal, political, economic, educational, health and professional status of women in our local community through projects. These include:
International Women’s Day Workshop and Advocacy at the State Capitol
To acknowledge International Women’s Day, club members will join with other Wisconsin Zonta Clubs in Madison to receive updates on issues concerning violence against women, and other legal issues affecting the status of women in Wisconsin. Zontians will learn how to approach members of the State Assembly and Senate on these issues, and will then go to the Capitol building to meet with legislators and their staff to actively engage them in discussion about women’s issues and needed legislation. The day will end with a rally in the Capitol Rotunda.
On or around International Women’s Day (March 8) club members join with other Wisconsin Zonta Clubs in Madison to receive updates on issues concerning violence against women, and other legal issues affecting the status of women in Wisconsin. Zontians learn how to approach members of the State Assembly and Senate on these issues, and will then go to the Capitol building to meet with legislators and their staff to actively engage them in discussion about women’s issues and needed legislation.
Zonta Says NO: Join the Campaign to End Violence Against Women
To support this Zonta International campaign, our local Zontians participate in and support events such as the YWCA’s “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” and a social media campaign to increase awareness of gender-based violence.
Annual International Women’s Day Luncheon
Every year, in March, the Zonta Club of Janesville hosts a luncheon to observe International Women’s Day. This is one of the club’s major events to raise funds to support our local and international service and advocacy projects.