Zonta International history

On April 10, 1920, Districts are outlined and district chairmen (later called governors) are formed.

1923 - The first international project is funded to care for 115,000 orphan children and women in Smyrna, Turkey.

1927 - The first club outside the United States is formed in Toronto, Canada.

1928 In January, Zonta establishes its first permanent headquarters in Chicago, IL. Later that year, Zonta clubs are formed in Auckland, New Zealand and Sydney, Australia.

1929 Nina Brodrick Price conducts a Zonta Friendship Tour in hopes of establishing several European Clubs.

1930 - "Zonta International" name is adopted as the first European club is established in Vienna, Austria.

1932 The economic depression becomes global yet Zonta clubs still manage to pay their dues.

1934 – Canada hosts the first Convention held outside the US. The convention honors Marion de Forest and the Buffalo club during their 15 year anniversary

1935 – Marion de Forest dies and the convention establishes the Status of Women Committee in her honor.

1938 – After the disappearance of Amelia Earhart, Zonta establishes the Amelia Earhart Fund later changed to the Amelia Earhart Fellowship Award Fund

1940 – Growth in Zonta slows because of the depression of the ’30s.

1948 - The first Z and Golden Z clubs are founded in Burbank, California, USA.

1956 – Zonta has more than 12,000 members and 379 clubs in fourteen countries.

1959 – Zonta is publicized for the first time via the television airways by the Zonta Club of Buffalo, New York.

1961 – The Emma L Conlon Z Club Service Award Project is inaugurated.

1962 – District 14 is established making two Districts in Europe.

1968 - Zonta International elects Helvi Sipilä as the first International President outside of the US. Contributions reach 1 million USD.

1969 – More than 20,000 members from 560 clubs in 33 countries celebrate Zonta’s Golden Anniversary.

1970 - Zonta International elects Angie Brooks-Rudolph as its first International Honorary Member.

1972 – Zonta receives consultative status with the UN International Children’s Fund (UNICEF), to promote closer relations between the UN and Zonta clubs.

1973 – In California, Zonta clubs push for the passage of the Equal Rights Amendment which would prohibit sexual discrimination in all segments of public life.

1974 – The Boston convention is the first with simultaneous translation in 3 languages.

1975 - Zonta International President Eleanor Jammal and UN Committee Chairman Harriette Yeckel serve as Zonta's official delegates to the UN International Women's Year Conference in Mexico City, Mexico and Helvi Sipilä serves as secretary-general.

1976 – Zonta’s first convention is held off the North American continent in Germany.

1979 – Zonta has 750 clubs in forty-six countries on six continents.

1981 – Zonta’s first study tour is conducted in Asia.

1982 – Danny Kaye, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, is given Zonta’s first Humanitarian Award.

1983 - Zonta is granted consultative status with the Council of Europe.

1984 - Zonta International Foundation is established.

1986 - Zonta International becomes the first NGO to support UNIFEM (United Nations Development Fund for Women) and continues to support.

1987 - Zonta International dedicates their first world headquarters building in Chicago, Illinois, USA.

1988 – After the US Supreme Court rules that Rotary International rules that they must admit women, Zonta changes its bylaws to allow individual clubs to invite men to become members.

1990 - The Young Women in Public Affairs Award is established.

1995- Zonta International conducts its first Summit on Violence Against Women (ZISVAW) in Washington D.C.

1996 – After a three- and one-half-year campaign, Zonta International Foundation raises US $1 million and pays off the mortgage of the World Headquarters building in Chicago

1998 - Zonta International Strategies to End Violence Against Women project (ZISVAW) is adopted as an ongoing program.

2004 – Zonta welcomes clubs in Germany, Norway, Netherlands, Australia, Switzerland and Russia and 4 new Z Clubs.

Of the 536,000 maternal deaths in 2005, 99 percent were in developing countries.

2006 – Zonta celebrates its 85th birthday and the 70th anniversary of Amelia Earhart’s flight from California to Hawaii.

2011 – Welcome 12 new Zonta Clubs, 8 Z Clubs and 1 Golden Z Club bringing the total as of June to 1,203 clubs in 64 countries.

2012 - Zonta Says NO to Violence Against Women annual campaign launches.

2014 - "Empowering Women Through Service and Advocacy" slogan adopted.

2015 – From Awareness to Action, Zontians unite around the world to end violence against women November 25 – December 10.

2017– Zonta clubs are encouraged to use the HeForShe platform to engage men and boys in their communities to join Zonta International as equal partners in our mission to empower women and girls and achieve gender equality.

2018 - Zonta International adopts its project to end child marriage at the Zonta International Convention in Yokohama, Japan.

On 8 November 2019, Zonta International marked a century of commitment to empowering women worldwide through service and advocacy.