Soroptimists Make a Difference at Elderhaus

An enthusiastic group of SIFC members (and significant others) participated in Making a Difference Day, October 26, in Fort Collins. Gene & Donna Weyer, Peggy and Amber Herrick, Carolyn Wade, Shelly and Kayla Chaput, Ann Rutledge, Judy Anderson, Sally Erickson and Bernie Fuller all helped with yard work, did various yard tasks and organized a storage shed! The folks at Elderhaus were very grateful and said they were amazed how much the group accomplished in the time they had.  

All together SIFC members donated 30 hours of service time that morning!

Soroptimist Seeks Applicants--Deadlines Approach

Fort Collins Soroptimist looks forward to reaching eligible applicants for our annual women's awards. Deadlines for application are between December 15 and January 1 with recognition in February. 

Soroptimist Women's Opportunity Awards help women (with primary financial responsibility for their families) 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 are for women who are attending, or have been accepted to, a vocational training program, or an undergraduate degree program for a first degree. These cash awards may be used for any expenses related to educational pursuits and are not tied to scholarship. Fort Collins Soroptimist will present one $1000 award and one $500 award to deserving northern Colorado women. Local recipients advance to region competition for cash awards and ultimately a chance at one of three $10,000 federation awards. Applications must be received on or before December 15, 2013. 

Soroptimist Violet Richardson Awards is a recognition program for young women ages 14-17 engaged in volunteer action within their communities or schools. The award is given to outstanding young women whose activities make the community and world a better place. Fort Collins Soroptimist recognizes outstanding volunteers and their organizations with matching cash awards. One local recipient will advance to regional competition and a chance for additional recognition and ultimately a $2500 contribution to the girl’s volunteer organization. Applications must be received on or before December 31, 2013.

Email sifortcollins@hotmail.com for applications.

SIFC Fall Fundraiser in Full Swing

It’s that time again. Yes, the annual nut, candy, butter braid and bean products sale of Soroptimist International of Fort Collins is in full swing. 

Our fall fundraiser is very important to our Club’s donations to worthy local organizations. The money we raised in past years helped women and girls through domestic violence prevention and recovery initiatives including Crossroads Safe House, SAVA (Sexual Assault Victim’s Advocacy); education and career advancement initiatives including Project Self-Sufficiency; and quality of life projects including Hearts and Horses, PVH Navigator Program, and Women’s Resource Center (health care assistance for low-income women). We also support many very impressive global service projects through our international affiliation, such as Children of Peace (Vietnamese orphanages), Help Uganda (education) and Soroptimist International of the Americas Disaster Relief Fund.

We offer local awards, including Women’s Opportunity Awards (offering funds to women heads of households), Violet Richardson Award (for teen girls engaged in volunteer activities), and our Living Her Dream Award.


Last year we added products from The Women’s Bean Project which helps women move along the path toward personal and economic self-sufficiency. So if you prefer healthier eating rather than sinfully delicious pastries, nuts and candy, ask about this great program and take a look at the products we can get for you. They even have gift baskets!

We hope you will purchase from us what you might have bought from grocery or specialty stores. Our prices are competitive and the products very fresh. We use them for client appreciation gifts, for holiday parties and baking. We also sell butter braids, which are festive loaf-style pastries that come frozen. A real bargain at just $12 each, they can be prepared easily and come in six flavors: Bavarian Cream Cheese, Blueberry Cream Cheese, Cream Cheese, Cherry, Apple, Cinnamon, and Raspberry. We also sell Caramel Rolls.Thanks for helping us support women and girls in our community.

Thanks for helping us support women and girls in our community. Contact any member, or email sifortcollins@hotmail.com to order.

Butter Braids will be delivered before Thanksgiving!

Soroptimist Awards Near $10,000

Soroptimist of Fort Collins culminated this year’s service efforts with distribution of awards, grants, and contributions nearing $10,000 on May 21 at Lory Student Center in Fort Collins.  

“This is our opportunity to experience the joy of Soroptimist Service,” says Lois Peltz, club president. “We've harvested and can now share the fruits of our labors--funds and products.”  

The local Soroptimist club commits 80% of their service funds to efforts in northern Colorado. The additional 20% goes to global projects. 

Those accepting local donations this year include: Crossroads Safehouse for prescription assistance through their Medical Unit, Hearts and Horses for women in their Heroes Program, and the Women’s Resource Center of Larimer County. Donations were previously distributed to Circles, Homeless Gear, SAVA (the Sexual Assault Victim Advocate Center) and in the form of Soroptimist scholarships and grants totally $2900 to help local women live their dreams. 

Loveland based Children of Peace, International accepted global donations of funds in addition to hand-made scarves, mittens, and Dignity Dresses for women and girls in Vietnam. Funds were previously distributed to Soroptimist of the Americas for Disaster Relief, Soroptimist Rocky Mountain Region for cervical cancer screening in Armenia and Vietnam, Soroptimist International for the December 10^th President’s Appeal--Birthing in the Pacific, and Soroptimist of the Americas in honor of this year’s local Making a Difference for Women Recipient, Dr. Stace Fritzler.

Dignity Dresses for Girls in Vietnam--Saturday of Service for International Women's Day

What a fun, and productive, Saturday of Service afternoon! Members of Soroptimist Fort Collins, our friends, and children volunteered to join forces and create 36 pillowcase dresses, fingerless mittens and scarves for less fortunate "sisters" in Vietnam. This was our club's celebration of International Women's Day, March 8.

When women on all continents, often divided by  national boundaries and by ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic and political differences, come together to celebrate their Day, they can look back to a tradition that represents at least nine decades of struggle for equality, justice, peace and development.

— with Carolyn Hurley Wade and 17 others at Allnutt Community Room, 650 West Drake Road, Fort Collins, CO.

     

Thanks for Supporting Our Used Book Sale

Neither rain, nor sleet, nor snow could keep the Fort Collins Chapter of AAUW and Soroptimist Interntional of Fort Collins ladies from putting on their successful annual fundraiser.

Members of the two local service organizations sorted 44,000 books generously donated by members of the community. And, after sorting and recycling efforts 33,000 gently used books were offered for sale.

Considering 2013's unexpected challenges of needing to find a new home for the event, advertising our new location, and coping with a Colorado snow, nearly $15,000 was raised.

We don't know where we'll "land"

next year, but plan to recycle books again.

We want to keep books

out of the landfill

and in the hands of eager readers.

Watch for us!

Women's Awards Recipients Recognized

Soroptimist of Fort Collins proudly recognized 5 outstanding women at our annual Living Her Dream Awards night dinner on February 19.

Our club honored two young women who are working toward financial independence with educational and career goals. Both have overcome significant difficulties in their lives and have reached out by volunteering in their communities and are making a difference in others' lives as they work toward overcoming their own obstacles.


SIFC's first place winner of the Women's Opportunity Award (name withheld for privacy) was awarded $1,000. She and her children are domestic violence survivors. She works full time, has an exemplary academic record, and is definitely deserving of support from the community.

Tammy was our second place winner, receiving $500. A stay-at-home mom, Tammy was left to fend for her family when her husband resorted to suicide. She balances family, work, and academics to improve her life and that of her children.


SIFC's Making a Difference for Women award was presented to Dr. Stace Fritler by members Judy Robinson (far left) and Carolyn Wade. Stace helped establish the much needed Medical Unit at Crossroads SafeHouse in Fort Collins which serves survivors of domestic violence. She has volunteered her time and expertise to medical missions in Vietnam coordinated by Children of Peace, International.

The Violet Richardson award recognizes teenage girls for outstanding contributions to thecommunity through volunteer work. This year's first place award of $500 was given to Kaitlin Beegle (below left) for the outstanding work she's done with the SAVA. A matching donation was also awarded to the SAVA.

The second place award of $200 was given to Patty Roberts (below right) for outstanding contributions to the community through Larimer County 4-H Clubs. A matching donation was also awarded to Larimer County 4-H Clubs.

Nonprofits Prepare for 20th Annual Used Book Sale--February 22-24

Same Great Sale--New Location

The American Association of University Women Fort Collins Branch and Soroptimist International of Fort Collins are anxious to have supporters know where to find their 20th annual Used Book Sale. This year’s sale will be held in a “new” location February 22-24 near the intersection of Lemay Avenue and Harmony Road in Fort Collins.  The sale will be open to the general public Friday, February 22: 8:00 am-8:00 pm; Saturday, February 23: 8:00 am–6:00 pm; Sunday, February 24: 11:00 am–5:00 pm at 1001 E Harmony Rd, Unit C, between Ace Hardware and Fiona’s Deli. Community donations for this year’s sale will be accepted through February 15. 

  

The AAUW/Soroptimist Used Book Sale has become a well known local event. “We depend on the generous donations of the community to make this event a reality,” said co-chair Mary Robinson.  Private donors throughout northern Colorado join Old Firehouse Books in donating gently used books throughout the year. “Our customers complement us on the quality of our sale, the quality of our sorting, and the abundant selection of gently used books we market.” Organizers estimate that they will sort nearly 40,000 books by sale date. All collected books are recycled through the sale, donations to needy, or environmentally friendly means.   

Soroptimist International of Fort Collins (SIFC) and the American Association of University Women (AAUW) Fort Collins Branch have successfully collaborated on an annual Used Book Sale since 1993. The collaboration has grown over the years, benefiting both AAUW, Soroptimist, and the community. In 1993 the two nonprofits split a little over $4000 after expenses―over $2000 per club earmarked for service projects. Last year (2012) AAUW and Soroptimist netted nearly $20,000 during the 3 day weekend, with proceeds going to scholarships and ongoing service projects. Throughout the year, community members donate good-quality, unwanted books to be recycled in the annual AAUW/Soroptimist Used Book Sale. Service funds are raised while keeping gently used books out of the landfill.

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) is a national organization fostering societal change while promoting equity for women, education and self-development over the life span. www.fortnet.org/aauw. Soroptimist International is a worldwide service organization of business and professional women working to advance human rights and the status of women. www.fortnet.org/sifc. 

For information about the fundraiser, to volunteer, or to donate books—call Margaret at 482-8210, or Mary at 227-1398.