The Zonta Club of Joliet is on the move in the yearlong celebration of 50 years of service at their Magnificent Mardi Gras gala. The club’s annual fundraiser is Friday, February 9, 2024, beginning at 5:30 pm at the Jacob Henry Mansion Victorian Ballroom 15 S. Richards St. Joliet, IL
“Our annual fundraiser helps us raise money for scholarships, our service commitments, and global involvements, said Bonnie Winfrey, Club President. “It is also the time we unveil our 2024 Woman of Distinction, and this year honoree is Amirrah Abou-Youssef. Amirrah has been helping women for over 10 years say no to domestic violence. We applaud her for her outstanding work.”
Amirrah Abou-Youssef is the local council coordinator at the 12th Judicial Family Violence Coordinating Council in Will County. She has a degree in marriage and family therapy from the Adler School of Professional Psychology, currently Adler University in Chicago. She began her career as a children’s counselor at Guardian Angel Community Services’ Groundwork Domestic Violence program and then moved to the position Groundwork’s program manager in 2014 until 2022.
While serving at the Family Violence Coordinating Council, a multidisciplinary team that determines how domestic violence is being addressed through systems since 2022, she has been able to make an impact in how domestic violence prevention is addressed, and how domestic violence itself is perceived and reported on in the media. She was chosen for the Zonta Club’s Woman of Distinction award because she is a recognized expert in the field.
It has been a tradition for the club to select a woman in the community who actively works to support and improve the status of women and girls and/or has a history of leadership and success in a non-traditional role as a woman. Prior honorees have been in such diverse careers as law enforcement, historic preservation, judge, the first United Airlines woman overseas pilot, community activists, community leaders, medicine, ministers, political leaders, and business owners. In particular, the woman selected for the award actively works to support and improve the status of women and girls, or who has a history of leadership and success in a non-traditional role as a woman. One of the earlier recipients was the first woman pharmacist in Will County. According to Winfrey, the club actively looks at women in the community as trailblazers; they know how to make a positive mark on the community and get things done.
The Co-chairs Beth Colvin and Cathy Miller, with the help of their committee, have planned a unique and fun event. Dress up in your Mardi Gras style best costume.
Tickets are available through Eventbrite https://bit.ly/ZontaMardiGras2024 or contact Beth Colvin 815-386-7022 email: bclvn26@aol.com or Cathy Miller 708-638-4288 email: cpmjwm4@outlook.com for tickets. Tickets are $65.00 and will also be available at the door.