Zonta International

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.

Above, Marianne Sernoffsky, Mary Yunker and Heather Parker at the 56th annual Zonta International Conference in Buffalo.                        

Submitted photos and press release:

Zonta International is celebrating 100 years since its founding in Buffalo in November 1919. Three of the original nine clubs are part of District 4: Buffalo and Rochester, and Erie, Pa. District 4 of the organization held its 56^th Conference in Buffalo Sept. 17-30 and four members of the Batavia-Genesee County Club attended the weekend portion of event.

Heather Parker and Marianne Sernoffsky were club delegates, Mary K. Yunker, as one of two district historians, and AnnMarie West as an area director (inset photo below).

District 4 Governor, Bonnie Clesse, of the Hamburg-Orchard Park Club opened the conference, followed by Zonta International Director Judy Gorton, from the Perth Club in Australia.

Attendees heard from several guest speakers:

• NYS Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul spoke to the group on Saturday;
• Mary Travers Murphy, the CEO of the Family Justice Center of Erie County;
• Beverly Jacobs, J.D., of the Mohawk Nation, an attorney who works to empower indigenous women of Canada and has received awards for the human rights fight relating to missing and murdered indigenous women and girls in Canada.

Both district and area awards were presented over the weekend; the local Zonta Club received an award for its monthly club newsletter.

The club will be participating with the Le Roy Historical Society on Oct. 6^th when an open house will be held at the former Donald Woodward Airport on Asbury Road in Le Roy on Sunday afternoon.

The club raises funds for their service projects and scholarship fund through several events during the year.

The next one will be the annual Holiday Festival over the weekend of Nov. 10 and 11 at Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel. As usual, Santa Claus will be present for photos with children, and more than 150 crafters and vendors have signed up to participate.

The club has set March 7 for its annual Lucky Number Luncheon.

Zonta’s Mission & Vision  

Zonta International is a leading global organization of professionals empowering women worldwide through service and advocacy. Zonta International envisions a world in which women's rights are recognized as human rights and every woman is able to achieve her full potential.

In such a world, women have access to all resources and are represented in decision making positions on an equal basis with men. In such a world, no woman lives in fear of violence.