February, 2004

Zonta Club of Teaneck-Bergenfield
Contact: Nancy Patrissi
Chair, Public Relations

Zonta Club of Teaneck Bergenfield

Bergenfield – The Zonta Club of Teaneck-Bergenfield was chartered in 1951 and is one of the 38 clubs in District 3 of Zonta International. District 3 covers New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. There are 30 districts internationally. Zonta International is the only organization whose mission is to improve the status of women locally and globally. In order to accomplish its mission, the Zonta Club of Teaneck-Bergenfield organizes several fund-raising activities including an Annual Fall Dinner and Fashion Show and an annual R.A.V.E. Walk (Rape and Violence Eradication).

Service projects include financial support to Shelter Our Sisters, the Bergen County Rape Crisis Center and the Women’s Rights Information Center. Locally, the club has assisted The Way, Vantage Health Care, the Center for Food Action, UGALS and Holy Name Hospital’s School of Nursing. The club sponsors a Challenger Little League team as well.

In order to encourage young women to participate in their communities, the Zonta Club of Teaneck-Bergenfield selects a “Young Woman in Public Affairs” recipient each year. A financial grant is also available to an adult woman who is interested in furthering her education. The club co-sponsors an event titled “Young Women’s Invitational Symposium” which hosts junior and senior high school young women from all over Bergen County. The symposium helps to develop leadership abilities and mentors young women who are developing their goals.

As part of its annual “Woman of the Year” event, the club has honored distinguished local women such as Marilyn Burkart, Florence Eberhardt, Rose Henn, Beatrice James and Barbara Wolf. Others such as Elaine Myerson, director of Shelter Our Sisters, Lydia Pizzute, director of the Bergen County Rape Crisis Center, and Assemblywoman Loretta Weinberg have been recipients of this award as well.

Of special interest are the annual high school scholarships awarded to graduating seniors of Bergenfield High School and Teaneck High School. The Zonta Club of Teaneck-Bergenfield is proud to be a charter member of the Bergenfield Museum Society.

Zonta International, a worldwide service organization, has over 33,000 members in 70 countries. The members are executives in business and the professions working to advance the status of women. Founded in 1919 in Buffalo, New York, Zonta takes its name from the Lakota Sioux word meaning “honest and trustworthy.” Zonta International enjoys NGO status at the United Nations.

All the members of the Zonta Club of Teaneck-Bergenfield volunteer their time, talents and energy to local and international service projects that are designed to advance the status of women and to advocate for the rights of women and children.