Soroptimist Programs of Service
Soroptimist has many programs of service. Each club is free to choose which of the Soroptimist programs it wants to be part of. Here are the programs that SI/Desert Tucson participates in. For more information about what we are doing on an international level please read our Soroptimist 2009-2010 Program Impact Report.
Soroptimist Women’s Opportunity Awards Program
The Women’s Opportunity Awards program was established in 1972 to assist women with primary financial responsibility for their families to obtain the skills training and education necessary to improve their employment status and standard of living for themselves and their family. During the 2008-2009 club year, the club, region, and federation funds in the amount of over $1 million were awarded to more than 1,000 women in SIA’s 19 member countries and territories. The women receiving these financial awards may use them for any costs associated with their educational efforts, including tuition, books, child care, and transportation.
Women’s Opportunity Awards program is the Soroptimist’s major project. Eligible applicants must be women who provide the primary financial support for their families, and who are enrolled in or have been accepted to a vocational/skills training program or an undergraduate degree program. Applicants must demonstrate financial need, and cannot have already earned an undergraduate degree. SIDT is proud to have participated in this program every year.
Download a Women’s Opportunity Award application and the Women’s Opportunity Award Reference Form.
Soroptimist Violet Richardson Award
The Violet Richardson Award is a recognition program for young women ages 14-17 engaged in volunteer action within their communities or schools. The award is given to young women whose activities make the community and world a better place. Our club loves to honor young women who embody the spirit of Soroptimism.
Download a Violet Richarson Application.
Soroptimist Ruby Award: Women Helping Women
Women Helping Women is what the Ruby Award is all about. We honor women who have worked to improve the lives of women and girls through their professional and/or volunteer work. The ruby is a deep red gemstone associated with wisdom, importance, vitality, strength, vivacity, power and love. These words embodying the strong and compassionate women who are our award recipients. Every year we chose one or more women in the community to honor at a special program. Anybody can nominate a candidate. Many women have been honored including Pima County Attorney Barbara LaWall, Dorothy Finley, Ann Young and Judge Leslie Miller. For a complete list of other women honored in Tucson click here. Download a Ruby Award Form and nominate someone you know.
Soroptimist Workplace Campaign to End Domestic Violence
This campaign is an ongoing effort to raise awareness about a little-addressed domestic violence issue: domestic violence as a workplace concern. The campaign officially takes place on November 25th, the International Day to Eliminate Violence Against Women. At SIDT we take it one step further and help prevent domestic violence all year long by providing workplaces with shoe cards and posters to put in their bathrooms with information for victims of domestic violence.
Soroptimists Live Your Dream Campaign
The Live Your Dream Campaign inspires women and girls to live their dreams and encourages them to pass on their good fortune to others. The campaign celebrates the unique power and accomplishments of women and girls just like you. When women help themselves and one another, amazing things happen.
The Live your Dream Campaign is an empowering women’s network and one of the leading online women support groups and sources of inspiration for women and girls. The mission of live your dream campaign is to enhance the lives of women and girls, in local communities and all over the world.
We participate by helping 5th grade girls identify their dreams and begin planning their futures. We encourage them to consider all careers, not just those typically for women. Career women from the community make presentations to the girls from all fields ranging from the Armed Forces to health professions.
Soroptimist Club Grants for Women and Girls
Grants are awards given to Soroptimist clubs to start, continue or expand projects in their communities that improve the lives of women or girls. When the Aspen fire on Mt. Lemon devastated the Girl Scout Camp in 2003, SIDT accessed a $10,000 grant to help re-build and re-forest the Whispering Pines campground.
Soroptimist Disaster Recovery Fund for Women and Girls
This program provides funds for programs that are in place to assist women and girls after a man-made or natural disaster. SIDT is proud to donate to this cause whenever there is the need. For example in 2007, we donated to programs in Louisiana for Katrina victims.
The final two programs are available for participation. Although we recognize the importance of these programs, we focus most of our efforts on those described above.
Soroptimists STOP Trafficking
The goal of the Soroptimists STOP Trafficking project is to raise awareness in the general population about sex trafficking. To that end, Soroptimist has developed a card that provides information about the sex trafficking of women and girls. The information is provided in a simple and powerful way that will encourage readers to get involved to help end sex trafficking. The cards are designed to be handed out at any time of the year, but especially on December 2nd the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery and/or January 11th the National Day of Human Trafficking Awareness (U.S. only). For more information click here.
Soroptimist Teen Dating Violence Bookmark
The teenage years are an exhilarating time for adolescents as they explore what it means to be in romantic relationships. Unfortunately, a pattern of relationship abuse sometimes develops casting a shadow over the glow of young love. Teenagers are especially vulnerable to dating violence because they don’t always have a clear understanding of healthy vs. unhealthy relationships. To help raise awareness among teenagers about teen dating violence, Soroptimist has created the Soroptimist Teen Dating Violence Bookmark. Clubs can personalize the bookmarks, print as many as needed and distribute them in schools and/or at other teen-centered locations.
For more information, email awards@sideserttucson.com
