Zonta Club of Upper Hudson Valley History
The Zonta Club of the Upper Hudson Valley was established as the Zonta Club of the Columbia – Greene. We were sponsored by the Zonta Club of Albany in 1984 and are now approaching our 40th anniversary.
Our first major service project was working with Camp Good Days and Special Times, an organization supporting children with cancer and their families. We organized annual golf tournaments for over 10 years, raising nearly $100,000 for the camp.
Our more recent projects involve supporting the Domestic Violence Shelters in Columbia and Greene Counties. Each month our members donate material goods based on seasonal themes: ice cream socials and children’s games during the summer; backpacks and school supplies for the start of the school year; holiday meals, gifts of warm clothing during the winter; bedding and personal items, as needed. Our fundraisers help with larger needs, such as annual holiday shopping for every resident at the shelter, a swing set, vacuum cleaners, etc.
Additionally, our club raises money to fund local scholarships. Currently the club participates in the District 2 Jean M Coon scholarship. This award is given each year to a Junior or Senior in high school who excels in community service.
Our largest fundraiser is The People Making a Difference Award dinner. The club selects one to three women in the community who are making a difference in people’s lives and honors them at a gala dinner, which includes an extensive raffle.
Our members are committed to the mission of Zonta – empowering women worldwide. Our club includes charter members, several members of more than 30 years and many new members, who continue to bring their talents and willingness to serve our community. We also sponsor the Columbia County Z Club (started in June, 2020), which offers youth the opportunity to be inspired to bring their service to the community and the world at large.