The Zonta Club of Auburn Awards & Grants:

The Young Women in Public Affairs Award

The Young Women in Public Affairs Award is a program to encourage young women to participate in public and political life by recognizing a commitment to the volunteer sector, evidence of volunteer leadership achievement and a dedication to the advancement of the status of women.

A Young Women in Public Affairs Award is presented annually by Zonta Clubs. Applicants must be pre-college students (age 16-20). Students may type their application or complete them on a computer (download version is available on the Zonta International website). Handwritten applications will not be accepted and should not be submitted. Students should adhere strictly to the number of words requested in brackets for each question; additional words will not be considered in the application evaluation (www.zonta.org).
The student selected locally will be recognized at a club dinner, which includes a monetary award. The local award winner then qualifies for Zonta district clubs. Zonta district clubs select a recipient for a $1,000 award and from these, five (5) will be chosen to receive an additional $1,000 award from Zonta International.

The stipend offered by the Zonta Club of Auburn is $1,000. Please ask your high school guidance counselor for a 2017 application. Completed applications must be received by March 25, 2017 and may be mailed to:

Ms. Carol McNeill
89 Lake Avenue
Auburn, NY 13021

The Jean M. Coon Humanitarian Award

The Jean M. Coon Humanitarian Award is an opportunity to recognize those students who perform outstanding community service. Nominee(s) must be high school juniors or seniors. Applications are being solicited from area public, private and parochial schools. Academic achievement is not a factor in selecting a winner. Applicants may access additional award information @ www.Zontadistrict2.org.

The stipend offered by the Zonta Club of Auburn is $1,000. Please ask your high school guidance counselor for a 2017 application. Completed applications must be received by March 25, 2017 and may be mailed to:

Mrs. Peg Redding
4305 West Lake Road
Auburn, NY 13021

The local winner’s application is then sent to District 2 to be considered for the District Award. This winner is announced in June of each year. The District Award winner is then presented in October at the Zonta International District 2 Conference.

Community Service Grants

The Service Grant program was established by the Zonta Club of Auburn to provide support funding to programs and/ or activities which improve the status of women in Auburn and Cayuga County.
In 201, the Zonta Club of Auburn Service Grants donated $3,645 to 7 organizations.

  • The Auburn Rescue Mission’s Essential Items Project provides items such as books and bus passes to women who have experienced homelessness and are now working towards obtaining their GED, college degree or vocational training.
  • The Dress For Success Project provides interview clothing and professional attire to help women seeking to further their employment, educational and/or professional opportunities.
  • Booker T Washington Community Center grant defrays the cost of sending girls to various group activities that will build trust and healthy relationships through courses at Orenda Springs located in Marcellus.
  • Child Care Solution’s grant will help purchase the RedLeaf Calendar Keeper , a comprehensive record keeping system for N.Y.S. Licensed Group Family Care business . By using the RedLeaf Calendar, the family child care professional will gain improved management and record keeping skills to support their child care business. Family Child Care businesses are small businesses that have been successful vehicles for moving women from poverty to financial stability.
  • Cayuga/Seneca Community Action Agency (CSCAA) received a grant for their Enhanced Breastfeeding Support Group to provide transportation, and material assistance including breast pumps, pads and storage bags to participating mothers. The purpose of offering these enhancements is to increase participation in the Support Group thereby increasing the number of mothers who choose to breastfeed and the duration. Breastfeeding has both positive short and long term benefits for the infant.
  • CSCAA Domestic Violence Intervention program received a grant to help victims cover the cost of other items not covered by any other grants. Examples of such items include new shoes, clothing and supplies for children attending school, daycare payments, and medical supplies including glasses.
  • King Ferry Food pantry grant will provide personal hygiene products that are excluded from public benefit programs such as food stamps for women living in Southern Cayuga County.
  • Saints Peter and John Soup Kitchen grant will help to provide approximately 143 meals that are served each Saturday.