Women’s
Opportunity Awards
The Women’s
Opportunity Awards program is one of Soroptimist’s
major programs. Through this program, Soroptimists assist
women who provide the primary source of income for their
families by giving them the resources they need to improve
their education, skills, and employment opportunities.
Each
year, our club budgets $1,000 or more to distribute to one
or more eligible recipients, who may use the funds to offset
any costs associated with their efforts to attain higher
education, such as books, childcare and transportation.
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.
To apply click HERE.
Violet Richardson Award
The Violet Richardson Award is a grant given to a girl 14-17
years of age for her outstanding volunteer services to
the community. Soroptimist is concerned with the special
challenges facing today’s girls and young women.
The organization launched the Violet Richardson Award program
in 2000 as a way to recognize girls for their volunteer
service to their communities. The program honors young
women whose volunteer efforts
include: helping other disadvantaged girls, fighting drugs,
crime, and violence; cleaning up the environment; and working
to end discrimination and poverty.
The program is named after Violet Richardson Ward, the first
president of the first Soroptimist club. Richardson Ward
was committed to creating opportunities for girls and young
women through her affiliations with Soroptimist, the Girl
Scout Council and the American Association of University
Women. Her passion for volunteer service, particularly as
it affected women and girls, has been as inspiration to Soroptimists
throughout the years.
Participating Soroptimist clubs implement the program at
the local level, where awards vary in amount. Club-level
recipients then become eligible for a $1,000 cash award at
the district level, with a matching $1,000 cash award for
the charitable organization of the recipient’s choosing.
The Soroptimist organization at the national level, grants
one finalist a $2,500 award to the recipients’ volunteer
organization.
To apply click HERE.
Scholarships
Soroptimist International of Sacramento awards 5 to 8 scholarships each year
to students who are currently enrolled in local community colleges or universities,
based on academic achievement and financial need. The scholarship amounts vary
from $500 to $2,000 depending on the application evaluations Applicants are
urged to review the application form and its requirements and to submit applications
by February 28, 2011. The awards will be made on April 29th, 2011.
To apply click HERE. 
