The name "ZONTA" is from the Sioux language of the Lakota first nations meaning: honest & trustworthy inspiring banding together for the purpose of loyalty shelter Zonta International was founded in Buffalo, New York in 1919. Currently, there are 1,200 clubs located in 68 countries around the world. The Zonta Club of Kitchener-Waterloo was chartered in 1978. We celebrated our 30th anniversary of service in 2008 with Madame Louise Frechette as our guest speaker.  Zonta International has Consultative Status with:

The United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) The United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) The International Labor Organization (ILO) and the Council or Europe General Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Operational Relations with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organizations (UNESCO). For the 2008-2010 biennium, Zonta International Service Projects are as follows: Rwanda: Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV: with UNICEF - US$600,000 Guatemala & El Salvador : Safe Cities for Women Project in Guatemala City and San Salvador: with UNIFEM - US$600,000 Liberia: Reduction of Obstetric Fistula: with UNFPA - US$450,000

Chartering members at the 25th Anniversary Celebration, November 2003.

Community Service
Local beneficiaries of Zonta service funds have included:

• Focus for Ethnic Women
• Community Justice Initiatives
• Mood Disorders Association Waterloo Region (Canadian Mental Health)
• Eating Disorders Awareness Coalition
• Hospice Waterloo Region
• Catholic Family Counselling
• The Literacy Council of Waterloo Region
• Family and Children's Services
• KidsLink
• K-W Counselling Services Inc.
• Volunteer Action Centre
• Betty Thompson Youth Centre-Lutherwood Family & Children's Centre
• Big Brothers-Big Sisters of KW & Area
• Alzheimer Society of K-W
• Planned Parenthood of Waterloo Region
• Women's Crisis Services of Waterloo Region
• K-W Sexual Assault Centre
• Foodbank of Waterloo Region
• Mary's Place
• The Legal Education & Action Fund (L.E.A.F.)
• Salvation Army
• Parents Are People Too!
• Shalom Counselling Services
• The Working Centre

Some examples of the Club's "hands on" time projects:

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