Zonta Club of Chicago Loop.

The Zonta Club of Chicago Loop is a chapter of Zonta International, a business and professional women's service club modeled after Rotary and Kiwanis clubs. Membership is by invitation only and is limited to one representative per club of each type of business or profession. The major function of each club is to provide community service. Zonta members also support professional ethics, the advancement of the status of women, world peace and good will, and fellowship among the world's women in business. The monthly dinner meetings give members opportunities to hear speakers, discuss mutual problems which they, as women, face in their careers, and to plan Zonta's programs. The first Zonta Club was founded in Buffalo, New York, in 1919. The clubs soon spread to other areas and by October of 1924 a group of Zontians from Detroit had organized a Zonta Club in Chicago. The charter was officially granted to 31 members on March 15, 1925. In the 1930s, the Chicago club was active in organizing other Chicago area clubs and thus became known as the Chicago Loop Chapter. Zonta International has service projects to which all clubs must contribute. The first major project, an annual scholarship for women doing graduate work in aeronautics or related fields, was adopted in 1938 in honor of Amelia Earhart. Another project was selected in 1962 when the executive officers decided to help establish and support the Ramallah School for Palestinian refugee women. The service projects of Chicago Loop Zonta have varied over the years. The earliest projects included donations of books and free dental service for children. In the 1930s and 1940s there was an emphasis on career counseling for young women with participation in counseling clinics and a Zonta sponsored radio program entitled "Salute to Youth." After World War II, Zonta donated equipment to the Great Lakes Naval Hospital for the rehabilitation of wounded military personnel. In 1949 members decided to sponsor a long range project, the girls' division of the Chicago Boys' Club. Support of this organization lasted 12 years and during this period contributions of over $15,000 were made. Since then, Chicago Loop Zonta has donated scholarships for women to various Chicago area colleges, donated equipment to the Rehabilitation Institute, worked with senior citizens, and helped at the Salvation Army Emergency Lodge.