Soroptimist Mission:
To improve the lives of women and girls in our community and throughout the world.
Soroptimist Vision:
A voluntary service organization chosen by business and professional women committed to improving the lives of women and girls.
We will share our time, talents and financial resources to enrich our community. Together, we will:
- Improve the lives of women and girls
- Help women achieve economic and political equality
- Serve as a global voice for women
- Provide outstanding leadership development opportunities for women
- Enhance world peace and understanding
Award Opportunities:
Soroptimist Ruby Award-Women Helping Women
The Soroptimist Ruby Award –Women Helping Women formerly known as the Making a Difference for Women Award honors women who, through their professional or personal efforts, are making extraordinary differences in the lives of women or girls. Honorees are women who have worked to improve the lives of other women or girls. Their work has had a significant impact, and also inspires and encourages other women.
Women may nominate themselves or another woman they feel is deserving of this honor. Please complete this form and the essay, and return them to the participating Soroptimist club listed on this form on or before October 5, 2009
Winners of the club-level award will compete for additional recognition at other levels of the Soroptimist organization. The winner of the finalist award, who should be available to accept the award in person, will receive a $5,000 donation to a charitable organization of her choice.
Soroptimist Violet Richardson Award
The Soroptimist 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.
Application Deadline: December 2009Soroptimist Women's Opportunity Awards
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. The women receiving these financial awards may use them for any costs associated with their educational efforts, including tuition, books, child care, and transportation.
Application Deadline: December 2009
Soroptimist History:
Founded in 1921, Soroptimist is an international organization for business and professional women who provide volunteer service to their communities. Almost 100,000 Soroptimists in about 120 countries and territories contribute time and financial support to community–based and international projects benefiting women and girls.
The name, Soroptimist, means “best for women,” and that’s what our organization strives to achieve. Soroptimists are women at their best working to help other women to be their best.
Soroptimist International of Cook Inlet has been serving the Anchorage community since 1980. We have awarded over $250,000 in scholarships and grants in our community.
A sampling of the local organizations we have supported include: Abused Women's Aid in Crisis, Inc., Alaska Women's Resource Center, Anchorage Opera, Anchorage Youth Court, Anchorage Youth Symphony, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Clare House, Covenant House Alaska-Passage House, Hospice, Mary Magdalene Home, McAuley Manor, Planned Parenthood, Rainbow Connection, St. Francis House,STAR, and Volunteers of America.