If you are a local person doing work to benefit women and girls and is in keeping with our values, you may complete the general request form. This gives us the information we must have to we evaluate your request!
The Live Your Dream Award
Since 1972, the Soroptimist Live Your Dream Award education & training awards program has given more than $25 million to tens of thousands of women who have overcome poverty, domestic and sexual violence, divorce, the death of a spouse, or other life challenges. These women have the courage and determination to turn their lives around.
Recipients may use the cash award to offset any costs associated with their efforts to attain higher education, including books, childcare and transportation.
The winner of the local grant receives $1,000. The local winner is then evaluated by a panel at the Region level. The winner at that level usually receives $5,000, and may qualify for an award at a higher level.
Eligible candidates…
- Provide the primary financial support for yourself and your dependents. Dependents can include children, spouse, partner, siblings and/or parents.
- Have financial need.
- Are enrolled in or have been accepted to a vocational/skills training program or an undergraduate degree program.
- Are motivated to achieve your education and career goals.
- Reside in one of Soroptimist International of the Americas’ member countries/territories.
- Have not previously been the recipient of a Soroptimist Women’s Opportunity or Live Your Dream Award.
- Do not have a graduate degree.
- Are not a Soroptimist member, an employee of Soroptimist International of the Americas, or immediate family of someone who is.
The Violet Richardson Award
We are lucky to have in our community many young women between the ages of 14 and 18 who volunteer in the community. They are eligible to apply for the Violet Richardson Award.
This award recognizes young women who make the community and world a better place through volunteer efforts such as: fighting drugs, crime and violence; cleaning up the environment; and working to end discrimination and poverty. Volunteer actions that benefit women or girls are of particular interest.
Soroptimist is an organization of women whose members volunteer in their communities, alongside many of these young women. Although we believe that volunteering is its own reward, we also want to honor young women who value community service.
The Dream It, Be It Award
Dream It, Be It: Career Support for Girls gives girls the tools they need to achieve their education and career goals, empowering them to break cycles of poverty, violence, and abuse. Dream It, Be It targets girls in secondary school who face obstacles to their future success. It provides girls with access to professional role models, career education and the resources to live their dreams. Soroptimist clubs will work in partnership with girls in small groups or a conference setting to provide them with the information and resources they want and need to be successful. The topics covered include career opportunities, setting and achieving goals, overcoming obstacles to success and how to move forward after setbacks or failures.
The Ruby Award
Your club’s choice for a “Soroptimist Ruby Award: For Women Helping Women” recipient is indeed a gem!
This award honors non-Soroptimist women who are making extraordinary efforts on behalf of other women. This award gives the club and the entire organization the opportunity to say “thank you” and encourage others to explore ways to assist women.
The Soroptimist Ruby Award recipient should be a woman who:
- Has worked to improve the lives of women and girls;
- Has had a significant impact on the lives of women and girls;
- Inspires and encourages other women.
Fellowship
Founder Region Fellowship offers grants to women in doctoral programs who:
- enrolled in graduate schools within the boundary of Founder Region
- have advanced to candidacy
- are entering into the last year of their doctoral programs