Zonta Foundation for Women  June, 2026 Update Zonta District 1 has exceeded its goals: District:  $45,000, 100% club donation  25% member donation As of May 30, 2026, $46,015.21 raised, with 100% of clubs and 27.5% of members donating,  (Zonta International average is 21,.5%) Of 32 districts, D1 is one of eight to have all clubs donate and eighth in percentage of individual donations!!! Individual donation percentages for our district are the highest in more than five biennia! We are indeed a mighty district. Top three donating clubs: Quaboag Valley – $8,978 Chelsea and North Shore – $4,634 Concord – $10,867 It has been an honor to serve as District 1’s Foundation Ambassador this biennium. Thank you to my sister Zontians and the District 1 board for their support, enthusiasm and fellowship. With Zonta spirit, Mary Ann Dr. Mary Ann K. Rubis Zonta International Cross-mentoring Committee District 1 Foundation Ambassador 2024-2026 Build a better world for women and girls  International Service Projects Update: Climate Empower: Community Empowerment and Innovation for Gender-Transformative Climate Action Gender-based violence manual and tools developed Community dialogues and workshops held Peer-led spaces created and sustained Human stories produced and disseminated Youth-focused innovation hubs started Return to school policies after childbirth created Road-map for 2026 showing monthly tasks created Ending Child Marriage: A Programme to Accelerate Global Action Phase III 8 million boys and men have participated in group education and dialogue Nearly 3 million traditional and religious leaders engaged in sensitization and consensus-building Over 2.5 million girls and boys accessed prevention and protection services – more than double the original target 81 policies or legal instruments directly addressing child marriage have been drafted, proposed or adopted Laaha: A Virtual Safe Space for Women and Girls Available in 21 countries, an increase of nine since report last year More than 160 […]

From aerospace engineering and space sciences to business to leadership to STEM, learn how The Zonta Foundation for Women’s educational programs are building a better world for women and girls in our own backyard. Discover how the Foundation is partnering with UN agencies this biennium to address relevant issues of our time, like climate-induced gender-based violence and child marriage. See firsthand the groundbreaking approach for addressing gender-based violence and sexual reproductive health in a virtual safe space. Whether you want to pay it forward, connect with others who share your values or just bring some positivity to your life, consider donating. Every dollar donated makes a difference. Please contact me for more information or check out online resources: Zonta International – Our Programs Zonta District 1 – Member Resources – Foundation for Women

As a reminder of the wonderful things our donations can accomplish, please check out this article, which appeared in Forbes: Zonta Partnership with UNICEF USA Here is a link to the article. Also, check out the bios of 2023 scholarship winners on the ZI member site! Thank you to all the clubs who participated in these programs. Consider inviting a scholar to speak at a district or club event.     As of January 30, 2023 donations to the Zonta Foundation for Women supporting international service projects, educational programs, and endowment funds totaled $3,558,359 for the 2022-2024 biennium! That is 78% of the biennium goal.   For District 1, Total donations from seven of our eleven clubs total $34,823. Great work! Thank you to our amazing clubs! Five of our members and 1 club have made donations to the endowment funds for a total of $1,541. Individual donations so far total $9,840, from 37 of our 193 members. 19% Our district ranks 28th out of 31 districts in donations from individuals. I know we can do better, especially when I look at the average donation per member ($179) compared to districts with many more members. Thank you to all who have donated to date. Let’s all remember the important work of the Foundation. Can we reach the goal of 100% of our members donating? I think we can. I know how much our District 1 Zontians care about the work the Foundation does. If you have any questions about the work of the Zonta Foundation for Women or would like a speaker for your meeting, please feel free to contact Ambassador Donna Clifford at clifford.d22@gmail.com. Thank you all for your efforts to improve the lives of women and girls around the world.