Zonta Women Help All Women
The Zonta Club of Beaufort recently honored Lindsay Gifford, Art Director at Pink Magazine, and Jerri Rosenau, Beaufort Clerk of Court, at the annual Zonta Rose Day. Rose Day is in celebration of World Women's Day and focuses on women who have contributed to their community and have advanced the status of women locally.
"It's an honor to be chosen as a Rose Day recipient this year. At Pink we strive to bring a positive message to women through the magazine each month. In doing so, our goal is to empower, inform, encourage and evoke thought in women who live in the Lowcountry and who travel to our area from all over the world," said Lindsay. "It's wonderful to see that the women of the Zonta Club of Beaufort recognize our mission."
Chartered on May 1, 1987, the Beaufort Zonta Club has many community projects this year, providing volunteer help and financial backing for: CODA; HELP of Beaufort; Thumbs Up; back packs with school supplies for Whale Branch Middle School; Born to Read Program; plus, participation in many events for Friends of Caroline Hospice, including "Christmas in July," the Festival of Trees Gift Shop and "Bands, Brew and Barbeque."
In addition, two scholarships are given each year, one to a graduating high school senior, and the other to a working woman, who wants to further her education. Past winners have gone on to finish a grant writing certificate, attend college, finish school and work towards a law degree.
Holding two major fundraisers each year to support its community activities and scholarships, Zonta club members work the gates at the annual Beaufort Water Festival in July and host a popular oyster roast in November.
The Zonta Club of Beaufort is a part of Zonta International. Founded in 1919, Zonta's early members were among the first generation of college-educated women, the first generation of North American women to vote, and a part of the growing, though still comparatively small, legion of women entering the workforce.
Zonta International is now a global organization of executives and professionals working together to advance the status of women worldwide through service and advocacy. There are more than 30,000 members in more than 1,200 clubs in 63 countries all over the world. One part of the annual club dues is given to support the Zonta International's efforts to improve the legal, political, economic, educational, and/or health status of women in developing countries or countries in transition.
In addition, Zonta groups internationally support projects that seek to reduce the incidence of violence against women and girls by changing personal and/or political knowledge, attitudes and behaviors.
These women's issues are in the forefront of our daily newscasts and are sometimes horrific in nature. Recently conservative Muslim and Roman Catholic countries and liberal Western nations approved a UN blueprint to combat violence against women and girls, ignoring strong objections from Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood that it clashed with Islamic principles and sought to destroy the family. Zonta has a strong presence in the UN and has advocated for UN projects that have improved the status of women worldwide since 1946.
The Zonta Club of Beaufort meets monthly on the 4th Tuesday at 7:30 a.m. at Moon Doggies Cafe & Grill, located at the corner of Paris Avenue and 10th Street in Port Royal. All women (and men) are welcome to attend the meetings and work toward membership.