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Petoskey ZONTA donates 10k to local organizations

Zonta Club
Zonta Club of Petoskey’s 2022 grant recipients, l to r: Sarah Mulkey – YMCA of Northern Michigan, Chelsea Platte – North Central Michigan College Foundation, Melissa Hogland – First Tee, Jenice Steenwyk – Child and Family Services, and Gina Stegehuis – NW Michigan Habitat for Humanity

PETOSKEY – Zonta Club of Petoskey awarded grants to five area organizations for their work in the community to empower women and girls. These grants supported the following programs:

Community Family and Children’s Service is an agency based out of Traverse City with an office in Harbor Springs/Petoskey.  The agency provides many services to children and families.  Their local workload includes a work with child abuse and neglect cases for children in foster care.  They work with the fostering parents and the children assigned to them.  The proposal was funded for $2,000 for personal and professional development for 12 human services female staff to be trained in Trauma-Informed Care.  This type of training has grown to become best practice for practitioners dealing with individuals who have experienced trauma in their lives.  Training in trauma will allow the workers to also train the foster parents in dealing effectively with the children they are fostering.

First Tee is a nationally recognized golf related training that not only teaches kids (girls and boys) how to golf.  The grant for $1,000 is for the girl’s program working with them towards gaining life-long skills that will help them succeed in a man’s world on and off the golf course – teaching character, integrity, honesty, and perseverance.

YMCA of Northern MI was granted $2,000 towards financial assistance for child care for 11 single moms for after school care and the summer day camp.  Zonta’s help provides a safe, healthy and caring environment that the parent can feel confident in sending their child to.  The Y operates two after school sites at Central and Ottawa Elementary schools.  The summer programs are operated from these locations, as well.

Northwest Michigan Habitat for Humanity was granted $2,500 towards a $4 million dollar goal to build 42 affordable homes in Alanson and Pellston.  Three of these homes were built in the past year and 12 will be underway beginning in the Spring of 2022.  Many of these homes will be sold to single mothers and this grant will be directed towards a home for a woman and her children. Given the affordable housing crisis plaguing the nation and in our local communities, this grant will assist our community in meeting a very special need.

North Central Michigan College was given a four year $10,000 pledge towards the building of the new classroom and Student Center Building built in 2021.  The building opened for service in the Fall of 2021.   This is our 2nd gift of $2500 towards this pledge.

In addition to these grants, Zonta of Petoskey gives each year a $2,500 grant to the Women’s Resource Center Northern Michigan to support a scholarship for women at North Central Michigan College, plus operating support for the WRC Northern Michigan, and support to remodel a room at the Safe House. The club also provides money toward the making and donation of mastectomy pillows for McLaren Northern Michigan Hospital, and a $1,000 scholarship yearly for the Young Women in Public Affairs program.

The Women and Children’s Fund at the Petoskey Harbor Springs Area Community Foundation was established in 1996 with a $10,000 gift from the Zonta Club of Petoskey. The designated purpose of the fund is to support programs or projects which benefit area women and children and help them achieve their full potential.

Zonta Club of Petoskey was chartered in 1971 and is one of 37 clubs in the state of Michigan. Their members participate in service projects that support the mission of Zonta: to advance the status of women worldwide. Zonta International was chartered in 1919 and celebrated its centennial in 2019. More than $350,000 has been donated to local organizations since the club’s charter.

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