Live Your Dream Award

The Soroptimist Live Your Dream Awards (formerly the Women’s Opportunity Awards) assists women who provide the primary source of financial support for their families by giving them the resources they need to improve their education, skills and employment prospects. Each year, more than $1.6 million in education grants are awarded to more than 1,200 women, many of whom have overcome enormous obstacles including poverty, domestic violence and/or drug and alcohol abuse. Live Your Dream Awards recipients may use the cash award to offset any costs associated with their efforts to attain higher education, such as books, childcare, tuition and transportation.

In addition to providing the primary financial support for their families, eligible applicants must be enrolled in, or have been accepted to, a vocational/skills training program or an undergraduate degree program and must demonstrate financial need. Also, please note only residents of Soroptimist International of the Americas’ member countries and territories are eligible to apply for the educational grants.

The Live Your Dream Awards involves three levels of cash awards. The program begins at the local Soroptimist club-level, where award amounts vary. Local-level award recipients become eligible for region-level awards of either $3,000 or $5,000. Region-level award recipients then become eligible to receive one of three international-level awards of $10,000. 
For more information, please contact our award chair
Amie McClellan at 707-223-3063 or email:  amiemcclellan@gmail.com                                                    

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To apply click link below. 
Pictured here are the 2017 winners of the Live Your Dream Award and the Violet Richardson Award who were honored at our recent awards luncheon. Left to right are Jasha Evans-LYD, President Crystal, Committee Chair Amie, and Raylani Reis VRA
lyd_application_2016.pdf
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lyd__2016reference-form.pdf
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Violet Richardson Award

 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 18 for volunteer action such as fighting drugs, crime and violence, cleaning up the environment and working to end discrimination and poverty.  Our club gives a cash award to both the awardee and to their organization of choice.

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.  Click on the link below for the application.
vraapplication-writeable.pdf
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