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NEW FUNDRAISER | “Peekleball” Volley Against Violence

The Zonta Club of Sanibel-Captiva and the Zonta Foundation of Southwest Florida, known for their annual March fundraiser, the Peek at the Unique Tour of Island Homes, are announcing a new fundraising event for 2024 – the Zonta “Peekleball Volley Against Violence” tournament at Sanibel’s Sundial Resort & Spa pickleball courts on Saturday and Sunday, December 14-15.

“Peekleball” is a nod to Zonta’s home tour, a Sanibel-Captiva success story since 2002.  The tournament is a charitable fundraising activity that supports Zonta’s 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence—an international campaign, annually in November-December—that aims to inspire action and end violence against women and girls. Gender-based violence includes psychological, physical and sexual violence, sexual harassment, child marriage, and human trafficking.

Zonta promises that this tournament will be a fun and memorable one.  Barbara Beran, Zontian and tournament organizer, stated, “In addition to pickleball play at all levels for doubles, mixed and singles, there will be pickleball-related sales, auctions and giveaways. The first day of play will start off with an honor guard, courtesy of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office,

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Zonta Offers New Round of Grants

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Zonta Successfully Brings Back “Peek”

Under clear blue skies on March 16, the Zonta Club of Sanibel-Captiva celebrated the return of a much-loved annual event, “Peek at the Unique,” the annual home tour on hiatus since 2019 due to COVID and damage from Hurricane Ian.

The 2024 “Peek” was a hit with supporters old and new, a new bus schedule offering guests the flexibility of staying longer at—or leaving sooner from—each property.

More than 200 enthusiastic “Peekers” came out to support Zonta, delighted to see old friends and enjoy an outing that had raised funds to improve women’s lives since 2002.  Zontian Kate Sergeant, a docent at one of the houses, said: “All the participants seemed to be so happy the tour was back and really liked the houses they had seen.”

On comfortable air-conditioned buses, guests rode to two spectacularly renovated homes on Sanibel’s west end, then to a new Gulf-front property that survived the storm while under construction, and finally to a nearby garden, restored following Ian’s wrath.

A bonus was the presence of the homeowners, who not only generously opened their homes but chatted with Peekers and answered questions.  Since the theme was Sanibel Resilience,

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Zonta Awards Grants to Area Non-Profits

The Zonta Club of Sanibel-Captiva recently awarded, through its foundation, a total of $18,750 in grants, the majority of this amount to Lee County nonprofits whose work supports the advancement of women.

Sharing in the local distribution were Habitat for Humanity of Lee & Hendry Counties Women Build, for rebuilding in Lee County post-hurricane; Goodwill Industries of Fort Myers to fund four projects in their entrepreneurial program, a local initiative; and Healing Stitches, a North Fort Myers-based program that offers social services and educational programs to underserved and abused Hispanic women.  The remaining amount was pledged to Zonta International for scholarships.

According to grants committee co-chair Pam Eccles: “The chosen recipients are organizations that help empower women, especially those with families, and with a proven track record of encouraging upward mobility.”

Zonta now turns its focus to new fundraising.  The return of “A Peek at the Unique,” the guided home tour on Sanibel, is set for Saturday, March 16.  Tickets at $65.00, going fast, are available through EventBrite: go to Zonta-peek-at-unique-2024.eventbrite.com.  And join Zonta for Jukebox Bingo, a series of game nights at the Sanibel Community House on Wednesday, February 21, March 20 and April 17. 

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Join us for Peek at the Unique!

The Zonta Club of Sanibel-Captiva is excited to announce the return of “A Peek at the Unique,” the beloved home tour which over two decades raised more than one million dollars to help local non-profits empower women and girls.

“Peek 2024” is set for Saturday, March 16, at the Sanibel Community House, with buses departing every half-hour from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.  With three spectacular houses and two gardens, all showcasing Sanibel resilience, the tour will follow a relaxed schedule so guests can linger.  Tickets at $65.00 are now on sale:  go to https://Zonta-peek-at-unique-2024.eventbrite.com.

Nori Ann Reed, Zonta President, commented: “This is not the ‘Peek’ of old – it is more a ‘petite Peek,’ respectful of businesses and residents on the island and the difficult 16 months we have had.”

Every dollar supports programs that improve the lives of women and girls, locally and internationally. For information, visit https://zontasancap.com/peek/ or follow Zonta Sanibel-Captiva on Facebook.

Peek at the Unique is Back!

Save the date! Our annual home & garden tour is back! Join the Zonta Club of Sanibel-Captiva on March 16, 2024 at the Sanibel Community House for Peek at the Unique, Showcasing Sanibel Resilience.

HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

• The event is Saturday, March 16, 2024 from 9:00 AM to Noon.
• Buses will leave from and return to the Sanibel Community House, 2173 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel FL 33957
• Parking at the Community House is free
• Tickets are $65 each and will be available through Eventbrite.  Tickets will be on sale starting February 4, 2024! Subscribe to our newsletter to be sent a reminder when tickets are on sale.
  • CLICK HERE TO VIEW TICKETS

“Peek at the Unique” raises funds for the Zonta Foundation of Southwest Florida, which supports grant partners who improve the lives of women and children on the island, in this region, and globally through Zonta International. Find more details on the event at https://zontasancap.com/peek/.

We’re putting the finishing touches on our 2024 Peek at the Unique!

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