Soroptimist International of San Ramon Valley

GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

Soroptimist International of San Ramon Valley is currently accepting applications for the following awards:

The Women's Opportunity Awards program was established in 1972 by Soroptimist International of the Americas 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. 

Women’s Opportunity Awards applicants have faced economic and social barriers, and personal hardships that have prevented them from pursuing and achieving their educational and professional goals—until now. 

The Women’s Opportunity Award changes the lives of women; women who need and deserve our support for themselves and their families. 

We are currently accepting applications now until the deadline, which is December 1, 2008. Then, in March we will present our winner with her award at a special events program. The program continues in May when District and Region winners are honored at Region Conference, and the program concludes for the year with the announcement of the Federation winner in July. 

Click here for an Application

and here for the necessary WOA Reference form to accompany the Application

The Violet Richardson Award is a program conducted by the Soroptimist International of the Americas Federation. As a volunteer service organization Soroptimist believes that by acknowledging young women's volunteer involvement now, they will grow up to be vital active members of the community. The Violet Richardson Award honors young women between the ages of 14 and 17 for volunteer action such as fighting drugs, crime and violence, cleaning up the environment and working to end discrimination and poverty.

The Violet Richardson Award program begins at the local Soroptimist club level, where the type of award varies from a certificate and recognition at a club meeting or special event to a monetary gift to the young woman and/or her charity. Club level winners then become eligible to compete at the district level and the six district level winners are honored at the annual Founder Region Conference where the Region winner is announced. The Region winner is then one of 28 Soroptimist International of the Americas finalists, one of whom will receive a $2500 contribution to her volunteer organization.

The award is named after Violet Richardson, the president of the first Soroptimist club in Alameda County in 1921. Richardson believed in personal responsibility and the motto, “It's what you do that counts.” She lived her life accordingly, as an active member in her community who was committed to creating opportunities for girls and young women. Soroptimist established this award to honor the memory of this unique woman and her dedication to volunteer action.

For additional information about the award, please visit the SIA web site Soroptimist International of the America's website .

You can “create magic” in the lives of the young women volunteers in your communities by recognizing and honoring them for their community service.  They volunteer their time and energy to make their world a better place.  They are the future leaders and future Soroptimists and they deserve our support.

Deadline for applications is December 1, 2008.

Click here for an Application

Soroptimist Making a Difference for Women Award

The Soroptimist Making a Difference for Women 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 and we will plan to honor our award winner at our annual awards banquet.

Please let us know if you have any women you would like to present with this honor. Deadline for applications is December 1, 2008.