Diaper Drive for The Retreat

Peconic Bay Zonta members Betsy Kaplan (left) and Barbara Fontana delivered a carload of diapers to The Retreat, a women’s shelter located on eastern Long Island. The Retreat offers support for adults and their families impacted by domestic violence, abuse, sexual assault and human trafficking.

Zonta members and their families collected about $2,000 worth of diapers as well as much-needed clothing items. The diaper drive is one of several projects undertaken by Peconic Bay Zonta to help women and children in need.

Brenda Vasquez Awarded ESL Scholarship

 

Peconic Bay Zonta has awarded Brenda Vasquez (center) a $350 ESL Scholarship. Vasquez is enrolled in English as a Second Language (ESL) classes at Suffolk County Community College, Riverhead. The program helps students improve their English proficiency.

A native of El Salvador, Vasquez is the mother of two children. She said that going back to school after raising her children inspired her "to continue and not give up." It's never too late, she added.

Now a farmer, Vasquez wants to become a professional. Through education, she hopes to discover a career that fits with her passion of helping people. She's always happy to help!

Peconic Bay Zonta members Mary Ann Miller (left) and Liala Strotman congratulate Brenda Vasquez.

Peconic Bay Zonta in Hawaiʻi!

Peconic Bay Zonta members Kathy Walker (right) and Mona Rowe connect in Hawaiʻi!

Rowe kept her membership in the eastern Long Island chapter of Zonta International when she returned to her home state in 2016.

Walker is the second Peconic Bay member to visit. Diane Greenberg came 10 years ago.

Rowe's home in the Pacific is always open to Peconic Bay Zonta. Perhaps we'll have a quorum for a meeting one year!

ESL Scholarships to Pamela Jenkins and Johanne Hyppolite

Peconic Bay Zonta awarded, from left, Pamela Rivas Jenkins and Johanne Hyppolite the organization's Fall 2025 ESL Scholarship. This award is presented twice yearly to one or two women who have successfully completed the level 3.4 English as a Second Language course at Suffolk County Community College and have indicated a desire to continue their education and career goals. They have also been highly recommended by their professors for their interest, motivation and academic skills.

In her application, Jenkins described the challenge of learning a new language. “I have developed resilience and determination that have strengthened my professional growth and my family’s progress,” she wrote. Jenkins wants to improve her communication skills and education to advance her career in Public Relations and Strategic Management.

In her home country, Johanne Hyppolite was studying Accounting Sciences, with a specialization in Public Finance. After immigrating to the United States, she had to adapt to a new culture and system. She decided to transition into the healthcare field in order to build a meaningful and stable career. Hyppolite currently works as a Certified Nursing Assistant. Her goal is to become a Registered Nurse and continue advancing in the medical field.

Peconic Bay members, from left, Geri Kazenoff, Mary Ann Miller and, right, Liala Strotman presented Pamela Rivas Jenkins and Johanne Hyppolite each with a check and a celebratory bouquet of roses.

Zonta Scholarships and Awards

Women in Leadership Award

The Young Women in Leadership Award recognizes young women, ages 16-19, who demonstrate superior leadership skills and a commitment to public service and civic causes, and encourages them to continue their participation in public and political life. The application process starts at the club level. The deadline for submitting an application to Peconic Bay Zonta is March 1, 2026. Click here to learn more.

Zonta Women in Business Leadership Scholarship

The Zonta Women in Business Leadership Scholarship supports women pursuing undergraduate and master's degrees in business management. (This scholarship was formerly known as the Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship.) The application process starts at the club level. The deadline for submitting an application to Peconic Bay Zonta is June 15, 2026. Click here to learn more.

Zonta Women in STEM Award

The Zonta Women in STEM Award encourages women to pursue education, career opportunities and leadership roles in the STEM fields of science, technology, engineering or mathematics. The application process starts at the club level. The deadline for submitting an application to Peconic Bay Zonta is October 15, 2026. Click here to learn more. 

Amelia Earhart Fellowship

The Amelia Earhart Fellowship expands opportunities for women pursuing advanced studies in the typically male-dominated fields of aerospace-related sciences and aerospace-related engineering. The fellowship is awarded annually to up to 30 women pursuing Ph.D./doctoral degress in aerospace engineering and space sciences. Click here to learn more.

Peconic Bay Zonta's Holiday Market, on December 6, 2025, offered beautiful holiday decor and an awesome collection of unique and discounted gifts.

Invited guests browsed through new, vintage and handmade holiday items, stocking stuffers, collectibles, dolls, comics, T-shirts, scarves, jewelry, stuffed animals and more.

Members wore "Ask me why I'm wearing orange" pins to engage guests in conversation about Zonta's mission. "We talked about how our group works to elevate the status of women," said Liala Strotman. "We also discussed doxing and the need to protect your personal information."

Sitting at the cash box to accept payments, Geri Kazenoff reported that attendees "genuinely thanked us for the work we are doing."

The event brought in more than $900. All proceeds will benefit Peconic Bay Zonta, which supports many charitable and nonprofit organizations that share our goal of making the world a better place for women and girls.

Our Holiday Market was part of Zonta's annual campaign to Say NO to Violence Against Women. During the 16 days of the campaign, from November 25 through December 15, 2025, Peconic Bay Zonta focussed on three topics:

Doxing

Child Marriage

Human Trafficking

Click on the links above to learn more.

Peconic Bay members (from left) Betsy Kaplan, Vivian Daddino, Geri Kazenoff and Liala Strotman; photos by member Barbara Fontana.

Say NO to Violence Against Women: Human Trafficking

Human trafficking is the fastest-growing criminal enterprise in the world, generating $236 billion annually, according to the International Labour Organization.

Simply put, human trafficking is the business of stealing freedom for profit.

Human trafficking is a crime in nearly every country around the globe to force a person to provide labor or services, or to engage in commercial sex acts. Women and girls are overwhelmingly the victims of sex trafficking. They are also victims of involuntary domestic servitude and forced marriages. In areas of armed conflict, forced marriages are especially prevalent, and minority women are usually common targets.

In the U.S., it happens in all 50 states and in the District of Columbia. Cases have been reported in urban, suburban and rural areas across the country.

Ten years ago, Peconic Bay sponsored a program on human trafficking. The speaker was Pat Latona, a Zonta International representative to the United Nations and member of the UN Committee to Stop Trafficking in Persons. (Click here to learn about Latona’s presentation in 2015.)

Pat Latona takes questions after her presentation
on human trafficking in 2015.

Here’s what Latona has to say about human trafficking today. “As the world shrinks the horrific crime of human trafficking expands. Traffickers have readily leveraged the proliferation of modern technology and financial systems to maximize profits and reduce the risk of detection. According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, sexual exploitation accounts for 50 percent of detected victims and 23 percent of forced labor victims.”

She continues, “One of the more heinous forms of exploitation is child sex trafficking, now on the rise. It begins when traffickers gain easy access to gaming platforms, social media platforms and other digital spaces where children and teens congregate. And it is here the 'grooming' begins. Traffickers methodically gain the teen or child’s trust, creating a friendly relationship which becomes romantic and then sexual. The child or teen is now 'groomed' to share intimate pictures which the groomer uses to exhort more to blackmail the child and in many cases distributes them on hosting sites.”

The consequences to these children who have been victimized is profound, says Latona. She adds, “As this exploitation increasingly develops it is crucial that children, teens, parents, educators and caregivers be made aware of the tools and techniques used by perpetrators in order to spot the signs early on and intercept immediately. It is also crucial that online platforms that host children are held accountable.”

Human Trafficking National Hotline: 888.373.7888