Service & Advocacy
Zonta’s fundraisers provide support for Central Minnesota including:
-
Anna Marie’s Alliance, a shelter for victims of domestic violence;
-
Scholarships for non-traditional students; GEDs, women pursuing careers in business, and awards to young women active in public affairs; STEM Scholarships for women pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering or mathematics;
-
LSS Crisis Nursery, Free 24/7 Care for Children/Support for Families or parents dealing with personal stress, housing problems, divorce, or other issues;
-
Minnesota Sexual Assault Center, 24-hour crisis intervention agency providing direct services to people affected by any form of sexual violence. The Center’s purpose is to offer non-judgmental, confidential, free, direct services to victims of sexual assault, their partners, families, coworkers, and friends;
-
Terebinth Refuge, a Christ-centered shelter and safe home that brings hope, healing services, and freedom to sexually exploited and trafficked women;
-
Resources for partnering with other local organizations on initiatives which empower women and children.
Zonta International
Zonta International is one of six organizations that will be recognized with a 2021 Summit Award, the American Society of Association Executive’s (ASAE) highest honor for the association community. The Award is being given to Zonta International in recognition of our work to end child marriage and advance the rights of women and girls in the United States and around the world.
This year, ASAE received 118 applications for the Power of A Awards. In addition to the six Summit Award recipients, 25 associations will be honored with the Power of A Gold Award, and 32 organizations will receive the Power of A Silver Award. You can find the full list of winners at http://www.thepowerofa.org/awards/.
Zonta International’s Executive Director, Allison, and I will proudly accept the Award on behalf of Zonta International at the National Building Museum in Washington, DC on 30 September. We look forward to sharing photos and video from the event and are preparing a brief article for the next issue of The Zontian.
This award recognizes and reinforces the incredible work being done by Zonta International and Zonta clubs around the world. Your efforts to end child marriage here in the United States are an essential and exemplary part of that work.
2024 DISTRIBUTION
2023 ORANGE THE WORLD
ORANGE THE WORLD to bring awareness for violence against women and children. The 16 days of activism runs November 25-December 10th and we are proud to see so many places LIT ORANGE.
Zonta says NO TO VIOLENCE!
2022 TAKE BACK THE NIGHT
70th Anniversary
Service project
Walk To Remember 2020
Zonta members join the Walk To Remember in support of the CMSAC on Saturday September 26
Take Back the Night 2019
Zonta St. Cloud members participated in a successful the Take Back the Night Event on September 26, 2019. We advocated for the end of violence toward women. On display were chairs to honor victims of domestic violence this year. 14 victims of domestic violence were highlighted in a touching display created by our Zonta members.
Zonta Club of St. Cloud 2018 Grant Awards
AAUW - Tech Savvy Project
Anna Marie's Alliance - Programs for Victims of Domestic Abuse
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central MN- Mentorship Program for Girls
Boys and Girls Club of Central MN - SMART Prevention Program
Girl Scouts of MN & WI - Leadership Program for Girls
Journey Home - Family Unity Events
St. Cloud Police Department - Youth Leadership Academy
Sexual Assault Center - Victims of Sex Trafficking
Terebinth Refuge - Shelter for Victims of Sex Trafficking
Zonta International Foundation
Total Grants Made $26,825
2018 Award Recipients
Zonta's Annual Meeting - May 2018
On April 3, 2018, The Mask (of rape culture) Project was held on St. Cloud State University's campus. A joint effort between the Zonta Club of St. Cloud, SCSU's Women's Center and the Central MN Sexual Assault Center, brought students together to engage in dialogue about rape and sexual assault and the stigma victims face in today's culture.
On April 3, 2018, The Mask (of rape culture) Project was held on St. Cloud State University's campus. A joint effort between the Zonta Club of St. Cloud, SCSU's Women's Center and the Central MN Sexual Assault Center, brought students together to engage in dialogue about rape and sexual assault and the stigma victims face in today's culture.
Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid Luncheon
The Luncheon included speaker Senior U.S. District Court Judge Ann D. Montgomery who shared her legal background and the importance of having qualified judges on the bench. Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid St. Cloud's office serves the civil legal needs of the area's most vulnerable residents-people with low incomes, seniors and the women supported by Zonta. Legal Aid provides legal advice and representation to thousands to help meet basic needs for safety, shelter, health care, income through government assistance, and senior law. We also heard from one of the many clients served by Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid who received services to get out of an abusive relationship.
Local Organizations Zonta Club of St. Cloud Supports
Anna Marie's Alliance Web site
Zonta St. Cloud is proud to advocate for and support Anna Marie's Alliance, a private non-profit corporation dedicated to providing safe shelter, support, and referral services for battered women and their children. The Alliance also works with the community on systems change and violence prevention.
Anna Marie's has sheltered over 14,300 battered women and their children since 1979—more than 8,220 of these were children.
Journey Home Halfway House for Women
Zonta St. Cloud is proud to advocate for and support Journey Home, a residential facility providing primary chemical dependency programming and housing for chemically dependent women and their children. It is a structured, recovery-focused setting for women ages 16 and older who are referred after the completion of primary chemical dependency treatment.
Advocacy Day 2017
On June 2, 2017 Zontians from all districts went to Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. for the first time to advocate for women's rights. Zontians met with legislators about the Equal Rights Amendment ratification bills and the Campus Accountability and Safety Act. It was an amazing event. Participating from our St. Cloud Club were Debra Kellerman and Susan Voeltz (not pictured).
Zonta District 7 Members are reading selections from The Unfinished Revolution: Voices from the Global Fight for Women's Rights. The book is available for purchase from the publisher, Seven Stories Press.