Batavia Zonta Club

Press Release:

Genesee County Chapter of Zonta International is proud to announce a series of impactful activities as part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, a global movement dedicated to ending violence against women and girls.

This year’s campaign runs from November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, through December 10, Human Rights Day. The Batavia - Genesee County Chapter has planned a variety of initiatives to raise awareness and support survivors in our community.

Local Activities

1. Donation to Local Domestic Violence Charity
   • As part of our commitment to supporting survivors, Zonta will be donating to a local domestic violence charity. We are grateful to those who purchased popcorn from our fundraising event this fall. There is still time to purchase and help support this donation. Please reach out to the Batavia - Genesee Zonta Chapter Facebook page to get further information.
2. Lighting City Hall Orange
   • During the 16 Days, Batavia City Hall will glow orange—the campaign's signature color symbolizing hope and a brighter future free of violence.
3. Engage Online
   • Follow us on Facebook at Zonta Genesee County Facebook Page for updates, event details, and information on how you can get involved.

Why This Matters

Violence against women is a global issue that affects 1 in 3 women in their lifetime. By participating in the 16 Days of Activism, the Genesee County Chapter of Zonta International joins a worldwide effort to end gender-based violence and support those who have been affected.

Get Involved

We invite community members to join us in this vital mission. Whether by attending events, engaging online, or supporting local organizations, everyone can play a role in creating a safer, more equitable future.

For more details and updates, visit our Facebook page at Zonta Club of Batavia-Genesee County Batavia NY.

Press Release:

The Zonta Club of Batavia - Genesee County is pleased to announce that they are now accepting applications for their annual Scholarship Awards. 

They encourage all high school seniors in Genesee County to apply. 

Applications can be obtained through your school's guidance office, career center office, or online by emailing zontabatavia@gmail.com.

All applicants will be asked to schedule an in-person interview with our scholarship committee. Submission deadline for applications is April 12.

Press Release:

Community Action is redoing the food pantry room and their shelves are outdated and bulky. 

Community Action reached out to Zonta International of Batavia for help.

The Zonta club was able to present them with a check for $500 towards these new shelves. This will help store food more efficiently for members of our community in need.  

Press release:

The Zonta Club of Batavia-Genesee County is partnering with the Episcopal churches of Genesee County to assist evacuees relocating to Western New York.  The churches are collecting donations to fill “welcome boxes” which outfit rooms in new housing.  The Zonta Club has committed $3,000 in service funds to support this effort.  Donations will be given to Journey’s End Resettlement project in Buffalo for distribution.  Zonta President, Patti Pacino, noted that, “We really felt the need to help the women and their families in whatever way we could as they try to rebuild their lives.  A couple of our members were familiar with what the Episcopal churches were doing and it made sense to join with them in providing assistance.”

Zonta International is a global service organization which ranks as the largest NGO supporter of UN Women programs.  With clubs in over 65 countries, Zonta works to advance the status of women and girls through education and advocacy.  Zonta International was founded in 1919 in Buffalo, NY; the local club was chartered in 1958.

For those interested in donating to this effort go to https://episcopalpartnership.org/afghan-refugee-resettlement-efforts-expand-congregations-can-prepare-welcome-boxes/ and click on “inventory for welcome boxes.”  Please call 585-343-6802 to schedule drop-off time at St. James, Batavia.

Submitted Photo: The Ven. Deacon Diana Leiker, Amy Swanson, Zonta Club of Batavia-Genesee County, Jo-Ann Bestine, St. James Episcopal Church, Batavia.

In celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, groups all over are engaging in MLK Day of Service activities, and in Batavia, Americorps and Zonta Club of Batavia came together in the Senior Center this morning to work on a couple of charitable projects.

Volunteers created birthing kits to be shipped to women in Africa and they created book bundles to give to needy children.

Dozens of members of Zonta Club of Genesee County gathered at the Dibble Family Center on Wednesday to stuff care packages with food and household items to give to victims of domestic violence.

Pictured are members of the committee, Ann Marie Brade, Mary Barnard, Beth Kemp, Heather Parker, Rhiannon Hawley, Patti Pacino, Kristen Elkins, and Karen Crittenden.

This evening, 10 young women who are about to graduate from high school were awarded scholarships totaling well over $5,000 from the Batavia Zonta Club.  

Kasey Edgerton, from Oakfield-Alabama High School, who was described as “a scholar, an actor, a feminist…a volunteer,” was awarded the Young Women in Public Affairs Scholarship.

Kasey will study English and Japanese at SUNY Albany with plans to become a teacher of English as a Second Language.

The Winnie Legg Business Award was given to Amy Schmidt, who will begin her studies in International Business at Elmira College after graduating from Batavia High School. As she wrote in her application, Amy enjoys traveling abroad as well as interacting with people of different cultures and hopes to incorporate these interests in her career.

Aimee Hurlbut, also a student at Batavia High, was awarded the Muriel Pies Art Scholarship. 

Aimee plans to study in a 2+2 program through Genesee Community College and Roberts Wesleyan College, where she will major in Business Administration and Graphic Design. A recommendation letter from her coach explained that, “(s)he feels that she must not only take time to improve her own life but also to improve the lives of others.” 

The Sis Babbage Scholarship for music was awarded to Maryssa Peirick from Batavia High School, who will study Vocal Performance at SUNY Fredonia in the fall. Maryssa aspires to sing with the New York Metropolitan Opera. 

She wrote, “I know that perseverance and dedication are what will make me successful.”

Justine Saraceni of Notre Dame High School was given the Education Scholarship. 

Justine will study Childhood and Special Education at St. John Fisher College. She was described as being very active in the community, including extensive volunteer work. She was quoted as having written in her application, “I need to be willing to fight through any obstacle that comes my way.” 

A Batavia High School Student, Nicole Guilds, was presented with a Math & Science Scholarship. She will study Nursing at Genesee Community College, with plans to transfer to D’Youville College.

Nicole aspires to work in the oncology ward of a hospital like Women’s and Children Hospital in Buffalo. She wrote that she “will be able to educate less fortunate women.”

A Scholarship for Math & Science was awarded to Kelsey Scott of Elba High School, who will be attending SUNY Geneseo to study Biology. The valedictorian of her class, Kelsey participates in numerous activities including SADD, the Big Buddy Program and Pageturners. 

In a letter of recommendation, her library club advisor explained, “I have found her to be a mature young lady with great potential.”   

Alexis Kegler from Pavilion Central was given the Mabel Ellis Memorial Scholarship in Math & Science. She will be studying Nursing in a 2+2 program with Genesee Community College and SUNY Brockport. 

In her application, Alexis expressed her motivation to succeed in the sciences, a field that remains somewhat male-dominated. 

A Math & Science Scholarship was also awarded to Nicole Bailey of Byron-Bergen High School. Nicole will attend Clarkson University to study Environmental Engineering. She plans to help companies to “go green.” 

In a letter of recommendation, Nicole’s Social Studies teacher and coach stated, “I have no doubt…she will make her community proud.”

Brittani Scharlau from Alexander High School was presented with the Ann Robertson Memorial Scholarship in Math & Science. In the fall, she will be attending the Rochester Institute of Technology with a major in Diagnostic Medical Sonography. 

Brittani’s Advanced Placement English teacher wrote in a recommendation that she “thrives when challenged” and cited her character as one of her greatest strengths.      

Zontanian Patti Pacino explained, “That’s what our group does; we take care of women all around the world and in our very local area.”

All of the award recipients were described as being very involved in their schools, activities in their communities and volunteer work. 

This year, there were also many qualified applicants who could not be awarded scholarships; so, the Zonta Club is planning to add more scholarships. Patti Pacino closed by encouraging members to “get out there and work” in order to make even more scholarships available to young women in the community.