Zonta International
| Motto | Advancing the Status of Women Worldwide |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1919 |
| Type | Service club |
| Headquarters | Oak Brook, Illinois, United States |
| Location |
|
|
Membership
|
30,000 |
|
Key people
|
Amelia Earhart (member) |
| Website | www.zonta.org/ |
Zonta International is an international service organization with the mission of advancing the status of women.
The first Zonta Club was founded in Buffalo, New York, United States, in 1919 by a group of businesswomen under the leadership of Marian de Forest. It was organized along the lines of the Rotary Club, with one woman from each business classification admitted to the local club and all members required to give 60% of their time to the "work under which they are classified". By 1923 clubs had been established in New York City, Washington, D.C., Detroit, Cleveland, and Toledo, Ohio. The National President was Miss Harriet A. Ackroyd of Utica, New York.
The Confederation of Zonta Clubs was formed in 1930. Originally conceived as a female equivalent of the Lions Clubs (an organization that, until 1987, was all-male), Zonta sponsors program to help women in the field of public affairs and policy making. It has consultative status with the Council of Europe, the United Nations (UN), ILO, and several UN agencies.
Currently, Zonta International is headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois. The organization has more than 31,000 members in 65 countries.
The organization's name derives from the Lakota zónta meaning "honest" or "trustworthy".
Zonta International seeks to provide opportunities for women through a number of educational programs and awards.
Established in 1938 in honor of famed pilot and Zontian Amelia Earhart, the Amelia Earhart Fellowship is awarded annually to women pursuing Ph.D./doctoral degrees in aerospace-related sciences or aerospace-related engineering. The Fellowship of US$10,000, awarded to 35 Fellows around the globe each year, may be used at any university or college offering accredited post-graduate courses and degrees in these fields.
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