Service & Advocacy
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The mission of the Zonta Club of the Joliet Area is to advance the status of women locally and globally. The club, made up of professional women in the Joliet area, is a service based and raises funds through annual fundraisers. The money Zonta raises goes toward scholarships, international projects, and local charities.
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The Zonta Club of Joliet has a long history of providing small grants to local organizations that serve girls, women and their families. Some past area recipients of these grants include:
Bag Lady Outreach
Big Sisters and Crisis Line
Bridges to a New Day
Catholic Charities
Center for Disability Services
Daybreak Shelter
Drug Coordination and Information Council for Big Sisters
Easter Seals
Groundwork of Joliet
Guardian Angel Home/Guardian Angel Community Center
Joliet Area Community Hospice
NAMI Will Grundy
Northern Illinois Food Bank
Prairie State Legal Services
Tri-County Alcoholism Rehabilitation Center
Trinity Services
Will County Center for Community Concerns
Will County Legal Assistance Program (WCLAP)
Will Grundy Medical Clinic
The 2025 Grant Award Recipients
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Recovery Community Center of Joliet – $1,673
Funding will be used to purchase items for convenience kits including feminine wipes, haircare/nailcare certificates, bus passes, and underwear.
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Spanish Community Center – $1,827
Funding will be used to purchase workbooks and supplies for a new 8-week support
group for female caregivers/mothers, offered in both Spanish and English.
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Will-Grundy Medical Clinic – $2,000
Funding will be use to purchase endometrial cannulas, KY jelly and other items for the Well Woman Program, which provides preventative healthcare services to female patients.
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Big Brothers Big Sisters – $2,000
Funding will be used to purchase supplies for period kits distributed to girls and teens participating in the NEW Neighborhood Based Program, which focuses on teaching health, beauty, and self-care.
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BluePrint Agency – $1,000
Funding will be used to provide lunch meals for female participants in the Empower HER Support Group, which centers on addressing substance use and mental health challenges.
Local Support & Sponsorship
International Support & Sponsorship
For the past few years, the Zonta Club of the Joliet Area has contributed funds which directly support women in Herat, Afghanistan. At the very active AIL (Afghan Institute of Learning) Jebreel Learning Center in Herat, the majority of its 1,477 students are female. Some 19 types of classes are offered. These include the very popular literacy courses and tailoring courses, embroidery, English, computers, miniature painting, beautician training, etc. There is also a preschool. Jebreel has become a valuable networking base for women and girls. It costs $25 per student for a six month class. Thus for every $1,000 our club provides, 40 Afghan women are able to study at the Jebreel Learning Center.
