Zonta Club of Petoskey awarded grants to six area organizations for their work in the community to empower women and girls. During the 2025-2026 round of applications, 13 organizations submitted an RFP, requesting a total of $59,110. Zonta Club of Petoskey awarded grants supporting the following programs:
Camp Daggett is receiving $2,000 to restore the Frog Pond after it suffered damage during the 2025 ice storm. The funds will also be used to purchase microscopes and waders to enhance the STEAM program at the pond.
The Health Department of Northwest Michigan is receiving $6,000 to purchase support unique opportunities for both their family health and school health divisions. Funding will ensure women and girls have access to no-cost pregnancy tests, emergency contraception, and OTC birth control. Additionally, to break down hygiene barriers for students, the funds will be used to purchase hygiene products and tampon/pad dispensers for Alanson and Pellston schools.
The Manna Food Project is receiving $2,000 to purchase nutritious food and supplies for the women who participate in cooking classes in 2026 that focus on nutrition, food safety, and healthy meal preparation. These classes aim to empower women facing food insecurity by providing the knowledge, skills, and ingredients needed to make nutritious meals, supporting both immediate needs and long-term wellness. In 2025, SNAP-Education was cut, which was previously used to offer Manna’s cooking classes.
The Women’s Resource Center of Northern Michigan is receiving $3,500 to support a Sexual Assault Awareness Month community engagement event on April 9. Two nationally recognized survivor advocates, Samantha Stites and Dr. Danielle Moore, will provide a powerful, relevant opportunity for the community to engage in dialogue around sexual violence, accountability and healing.
North Central Michigan College is receiving the final $5,000 of a two year grant from Zonta’s Women and Children’s Fund at the Petoskey-Harbor Springs Community Foundation, to support its Career and Technical Education Enhancement Project (CATEE), which is expanding and modernizing campus facilities to better prepare students—especially women—for high-demand careers in healthcare, STEM, and manufacturing. This investment will help provide state-of-the-art learning environments that empower women to gain skills, achieve economic independence, and become leaders in their fields and communities.
Top of Michigan Trails Council – Kids Pedaling with a Purpose receiving $2,500 to assist in the purchase of a new fleet of hybrid bikes, helmets, trailer for adaptive bikes and side-by-side pedal assist bike for the 4th grade students of Emmet County. Kids Pedaling with a purpose operates under the Top of Michigan Trails. 4th grade students learn about the health benefits of biking and in the spring take an 8 mile ride to the Oden Fish Hatchery. In the past 9 years, the organization has provided over 1,000 Emmet Co 4th grade girls the opportunity to experience the lifelong benefits of riding a bike
In addition to these grants, Zonta of Petoskey gives each year a $2,500 grant to the Women’s Resource Center Northern Michigan to support a scholarship for women at North Central Michigan College, plus operating support for the WRC Northern Michigan, and support to remodel a room at the Safe House. The club also provides money toward the making and donation of mastectomy pillows for McLaren Northern Michigan Hospital, and a $1,000 scholarship yearly for the Young Women in Leadership program.
Grant recipients left to right: Sarah Ford, Zonta Club of Petoskey president; Kate Scollin, Kids Pedaling with a Purpose volunteer; Megan King, Outreach & Advocacy Program Director for Women’s Resource Center; Sam Johnstone, Jen Vollmer, and Jill Towne-Patton with the Health Department of Northwest Michigan; Julie Joles, Executive Director of Camp Daggett; Chelsea Platte, NCMC VP for Advancement/Foundation Executive Director; Jodi Haven, Zonta Status of Woman Co-Chair; Carrie Klingelsmith, Executive Director of The Manna Food Project.