Page 171 - South Mississippi Living - September, 2017

ZONTA fun for a cause
Zonta Pascagoula
celebrates 40 years of service
T he Pascagoula chapter of Zonta International celebrates its 40th anniversary this year with the 2017 installment of its annual Arts & Crafts Festival. Though people from across the Coast enjoy attending the annual festival, the organization itself is about much more than the event.
story by Kelsey Sunderman-Foster
Zonta International is and of course, art exhibits that allows Zonta to donate
a global organization of executives and professionals working together to advance the status of women worldwide through service and advocacy. Established in 1919, Zonta has more than 31,000 members in more than 1,200 clubs in 65 countries around the world. As one
of these 1,200 clubs, Zonta Pascagoula seeks to diversify the culture of Mississippi
Each year, Zonta Pascagoula hosts an Arts & Crafts Festival in Downtown Pascagoula to raise funds for its numerous service and community projects throughout the year. The festival features a variety of family-friendly activities including live entertainment, children’s activities, library books sale, festival foods,
and crafts for sale. Last year, the Zonta Arts & Crafts Festival was voted The Best of Pascagoula’s “Best Festival.”
As the festival is held on
the first weekend of October each year, it makes perfect sense that Zonta partners with Cruisin’ the Coast for 2017.
Of course, the festival wouldn’t be a success without its supporters. “The Zonta Club appreciates the hard work that our exhibitors contribute to making our festival a success. Their sales have increased every year
and our funds have increased along with them, resulting
in an enthusiastic crowd
that enjoys the festival,”
said Evelyn Draughn, parliamentarian for Zonta of Pascagoula. It is this success
funds to so many non-profit organizations.
Aside from the festival, Zonta participates in many community service projects across the Coast. They raise funds for the Gulf Coast Center for Non-violence– Adrienne’s House, a local domestic violence center; support the efforts of CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates for children); collect resources for babies
as well as maternity items for the organization, PROMISE; and support numerous other charitable organizations.
Over the past 40 years, Zonta of Pascagoula has truly made a positive impact on the Coast, and the group hopes to continue their good works for a long time to come.
Zonta of Pascagoula www.zontaofpascagoula.com
FOR MORE REFLECTIONS OF THE GULF COAST >> www.smliving.net September 2017 • SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living 171