|
Each year, Soroptimist
Clubs participate in a variety of Soroptimist Award Programs, and they
seek applicants from their local community. Descriptions of three
award programs follow. If you are interested in receiving
an application, please
click here to contact
us by e-mail, or write to us at Soroptimist International of
Moreno Valley, P O Box 906, Moreno Valley, California 92556
|
|

The
Women's Opportunity Awards, Soroptimist's major service
project, was established by Soroptimist International of
the Americas in 1972 to assist women entering or
re-entering the workforce in obtaining the education and
skills training they need to improve their employment
status. Women's Opportunity Awards are designed to give
women heads of household, who provide the primary source
of financial support for their families, the opportunity
to achieve their career goals—an opportunity they have
not previously had, whether because of economic or
social barriers, or personal circumstances. These awards
are for women who are attending, or have been accepted
to, a vocational/skills training program, or an
undergraduate degree program. The
program begins on the club level, where award amounts
vary. Club-level recipients become eligible for
additional awards at other levels of the organization.
In addition, Soroptimist grants three $10,000 finalist
awards each year. Since the program’s inception,
Soroptimist has funded almost $5.5 million in Women’s
Opportunity Awards and assisted about 1,640 women. In
total (including local club activity), approximately $15
million in Women’s Opportunity Awards has been disbursed
to about 22,500 women since the program began in 1972.
|
|
2010
club level 1st place winner is a mother of 5
children. She attends California State University
San Bernardino and is working toward a Bachelor Degree
in social work. Her goal is to become a licensed
clinical social worker in the mental health field. |
2010 club level 2nd place winner is currently
working towards an Associate in Science Degree for
Veterinary Technology. Her career goal is to
obtain a doctorate in veterinary medicine. |
 |
2009 club level
winner is a widow and mother of four children.
She attends Sage College to become a court
reporter. |
|

|
2008 club level 1st place winner
is a single mother of 2 children. She is attending
classes to obtain her AA in applied science with
emphasis on web design, and she hopes to one day be
be a business owner. |
|
2008 club level 2nd place
winner is a single mother of 4 children. She is taking
her final class to obtain an AA degree in nursing, and
her career goal is to be a registered nurse. |
|
|
 |
|
The
Soroptimist Ruby Award acknowledges women who are working to
improve the lives of women and girls through their personal or
professional activities. Their efforts help to promote the
issues that are important to the Soroptimist organization.
Honorees are women who have worked in extraordinary ways to
benefit women and girls. Examples of the type of work honored
include: spearheading an effort to open a domestic violence
shelter, working to secure health services for low-income women,
starting a mentoring program for at-risk girls, or lobbing
companies to provide on-site child care. The program enables
local Soroptimist clubs and the Soroptimist organization to
thank these women and encourage others to explore ways to assist
women and girls. The program begins on the club level, where the
type of recognition varies. Award winners at the club level are
eligible for additional awards at other levels of the
organization. The finalist receives a $5,000 donation to the
charitable organization of her choice.
 |
2010 club level Ruby Award winner and Golden
West Region finalist is Faye. She is an educator for
30 years and middle school counselor at Badger Springs Middle
School in Moreno Valley. Faye is widely respected for her
development of S.K.A.T.E.R.S, a mentoring and service learning
program, and Family Counseling Night, a program with a zero
budget that enables middle school students and their family
members to attend group counseling sessions in the evening on
Empowering Girls, Anger Management, Getting Accurate
Information Now (G.A.I.N.), and Incarcerated Family
Member Support. Faye also co-facilitates groups for
students dealing with anger, alcohol, tobacco, drugs, low
self-esteem, grief and loss, self mutilation, suicide attempts
and family issues. She believes strongly that "if you do
prevention, you will not need so much intervention. When
students feel connected, they are less likely to engage in risky
behaviors." Empowering youth continues to be the focus of
all Faye's endeavors. |
 |
2009 club level winners are Hernethia
(pictured) and Bobbie.
Hernethia is a retired school teacher and administrator.
Her work with Cultural
Heritage Center, a non-profit group in Moreno Valley,
helps low-income youth with free instruction in music, drama,
dance and academic tutoring.
Bobbie has worked with local churches, the
City of Moreno Valley, several service organizations and
concerned citizens to form Community Assistance Program (CAP) in
Moreno Valley. She has been a regular CAP volunteer since
its inception in 1991, assisting the director and meeting with
applicants to determine eligibility. |
|

2008 club level winner is
Dorothy, a retired nurse and
passionate volunteer in a variety of parish ministries at St.
Christopher’s Catholic Church. She has worked in St.
Christopher Food Bank since 1986, and has served as the ministry
coordinator for the past eight years. Each month, the food bank
serves over 500 needy families in the community, and the
majority of clients are women and their dependent children.
Additional food supplies are provided to housing centers for
unwed mothers and homeless women. Besides overseeing the food
bank administration, Dorothy recruits donations from community
retailers and helps with the purchase, sorting and distribution
of food each week. |
|
|
|
|
The Violet Richardson Award
|
 |
Named for the
president of the first Soroptimist club, the Violet Richardson Award
honors girls who are making a difference through volunteer service. Each
year, Soroptimist clubs honor girls who donate their time and energy to
causes that make the community and world a better place — such as
working to end discrimination and poverty, assisting women and children
who are victims of domestic violence, or mentoring young girls. The
program begins on the Soroptimist club level, with club recipients
becoming eligible for additional awards at other levels of the
organization. At the Federation (SIA) level, one winner is chosen to
receive a finalist award, which includes a contribution of $2,500 to the
charitable organization of the recipient’s choice.
 |
2010 Violet Richardson Award club
level winner is a shining example of youth in
action. Her volunteer activities include
assisting in blood drives, gathering Christmas gifts
for our troops, assisting at the polls, fundraising
for multiple sclerosis. As an active girl
scout, she and her fellow troop members volunteer
time at Ronald McDonald House and participate in
Coastal Clean-up day. |
|
2009 Violet Richardson Award club
level winner is a high school senior and girl
scout. She has earned 3 of the highest
scouting awards for her volunteer efforts in the
community, and her projects include collecting
Christmas toys for 300 children and collecting
clothing for the needy. She plans to attend a
4-year college and will focus her studies in the
fields of business economics and linguistics.
|
Club
level 2008 Violet Richardson Award winner was recognized for her volunteer work with many
community based non profit groups, including the
Moreno Valley Community of Promise (MVCP). In the past
5 years, she raised over $6,500 in her recycling
project for MVCP.
|
|
|
|