LIHU‘E — The annual partnership between The Garden Island Newspaper and The Zonta Club of Kaua‘i Foundation is kicking off.
For the past 28 years, the organizations have teamed up to raise funds for people in our community in need of support through various nonprofit agencies.
In 2022, the organizations received $66,000 in donations. With the help of eight agencies providing stories of families and individuals who could use help during the holiday season, 132 children and 247 adults had a brighter Christmas — and all through the generosity of many donors to the Christmas Fund.
Since 2019, Cyndi Ayonon has led the effort because she wanted to give back to the community after she retired.
“As the economy has spiraled, we know there are those who have difficulty providing the bare necessities so this will help as a holiday surprise for many,” Ayonon said.
Through Christmas Eve, The Garden Island will share daily, front-page stories about families (we don’t use their real names) facing challenges and who would appreciate a little help.
The Christmas Fund is an avenue for everyone to provide that assistance. Donations are used by Zonta Club members to purchase gift certificates that are in turn distributed through the social service agencies.
Each donation is accounted for and recorded. There are no administrative costs involved and the money goes directly for the purchase of gift certificates for those who need them for Christmas presents and essentials like groceries.
If you would like to hold a fundraising event for the Christmas Fund, let us know and we’ll spread the word. Anyone making a donation of $200 or more can have their picture published in TGI by contacting Dennis Fujimoto.
Donations may be made by way of their website at: www.Zonta-Kauai.org or checks can be made out to: The Zonta Club of Kaua‘i Foundation, P.O. Box 3032, Lihu‘e, HI 96766.
As the Zonta Club of Kaua‘i continues to empower women through service and advocacy, the warmest mahalo is extended to people who have contributed to this cause in the past.
The Zonta Club of Kaua‘i was started April 1, 1952, and in the 1980s added the Zonta Club of Kaua‘i Foundation, a nonprofit for fundraising. All Zonta Clubs are a member of Zonta International, active in 63 countries. Zonta International has been in existence for more than 104 years.
