Zonta Club provides grants to mature women who are at a crossroad and need assistance to make a new life. The Virginia Wrage Memorial Fund was established to help these women in need achieve social and economic independence following a life-altering event.
Some past recipients share how the grant’s financial assistance helped them. To quote, “I’m a UCLA graduate, I never anticipated going into hiding, food stamps and homelessness,” and “It was a big inspiration that someone believed in me when I was having a hard time believing in myself.” Their testimony supports Zonta’s efforts to make a difference and improve the lives of women through service, advocacy and awareness.
Grant application deadline is October 15, 2007 and an application can be downloaded from www.scvzonta.org .
Four Zontians are identified as part of the 51 unspoken heroes of SCV. A committee comprised of six representatives from the SCV Living Magazine, KHTS radio station, Inside SCV magazine, The Signal newspaper and Bank of Santa Clarita met for the purpose of selecting Santa Clarita’s 51 Most Influential People in 2007. Selection criteria included: level of influence in the community from August 2006 through August 2007; having influence, not making headlines and working behind the scenes.
These four Zontians were selected again, having made the list last year as well.
• Marlee Lauffer,Vice President of Corporate Communications of Newhall Land, sheparded the company ranks through successes and challenges of the Valencia Master Plan and placed number 10.
• Connie Worden-Roberts, who owns Transportation Management Association, promotes transportation planning throughout the community and is a founding member of the City of Santa Clarita, was heralded as number 17.
• Marsha McLean, Santa Clarita’s Mayor, works to “put a face on the City” for the rest of the world to see. She ranked number 31.
• Gloria Mercado-Fortine, William S. Hart Trustee Board Member, took a stand for previous commitments made to students and much needed repairs of Hart High School. She placed number 35.
For information about Zonta, contact Phyllis Walker at 213-922-1084 or 661-251-1172.