SI FC announces events and celebrates the joy of our Soroptimist successes on this blog. Welcome!

Saturday, December 27, 2014

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

Joy to The World--Soroptimist Style

Fort Collins Soroptimist members look forward to our annual Holiday Program Meeting. We invite friends and family to share the Joy of Soroptimist service. What a great opportunity for awareness, advocacy, and action on behalf of women!

Soroptimist Joy is in the giving and the sharing.
  • This year we were priviledged to hear updates from several of SIFC's past Women's Opportunity Award Recipients. 
  • We donated to the SI President's Appeal.
  • And, we collected optional donations for two great local causes. 
    1. The Poudre School District Teen Parent Program benefitted from donated diapers and children's books. 
    2. A single mom and her two teens (who recently earned their own apartment) benefitted from donations of good quality used household goods and a gift card for necessities.
Browse some of our snapshots from the evening.

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

OH NUTS !!!, and Candy Fundraiser

Soroptimist International of Fort Collins is wrapping up our annual nut and candy fundraiser and offers you the opportunity to participate as well. 

Contact a member, or email us for an order form to purchase from SIFC what you might have purchased 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.

SIFC’s order deadline is December 2, 2014.  

Service funds raised in past years have:
  • helped women and girls achieve self-sufficiency through education and counseling,
  • supported locally based, domestic violence prevention and recovery initiatives,
  • helped women survivors of war, those recovering from natural disaster, and those seeking education and self-sufficiency around the globe,
  • provided warmth and dignity to girls and women in Vietnam,
  • and so much more…

Thanks for supporting our efforts to help women and girls; you are a valued partner!

Request an order form by emailing:
sifortcollins@hotmail.com

Friday, October 31, 2014

Soroptimist Members Make a Difference October 25

Members of the Fort Collins Soroptimist Club, along with family and friends, donated 54 hours of service time, personal energy, and resources to three local service projects during United Way's 2014 Make a Difference Day.

Soroptimist International's program objectives include environmental sustainability and elimination of violence against women and girls. This year's service opportunities allowed volunteers to work side by side with others in the community to make the world a better place. 

Some members helped improve the environment around Elderhaus--Fort Collins Adult Day Care Service. Some members helped improve the enviornment around the Rocky Mountain Raptor Program facility. And some members crafted Dignity Dresses, mittens and scarves for girls cared for by Children of Peace, International, in Vietnam.







Volunteers shown above include:  Ann Rutledge, Donna Weyer, Gloria Gleave, 
Gene Weyer, Bernie Fuller, Judy Weaver, JD Anderson, Peggy Herrick, 
Cheryl Rojas, and Libby Taylor.

Thursday, September 25, 2014

Rocky Mountain Region Woman Receives Soroptimist Federation Funds


Hear from Shirlee, one of SIA's 2014 Live Your Dream Award (formerly the Women's Opportunity Awards) recipients. Shirlee gave an inspiring speech during the Live Your Dream Luncheon at Soroptimist's 43rd Biennial Convention. Live Your Dream, Shirlee! 

Living Her Dream Awards, previously Womens Opportunity Awards, are designed to give women who provide the primary source of financial support for their families, the opportunity to achieve their career goals--an opportunity they have not previously had, whether because of economic or social barriers, or personal circumstances. 
These cash awards are for women who are attending, or have been accepted to, a vocational/skills training program, or an undergraduate degree program, and can be used for any expense related to obtaining schooling.
If you, or someone you know qualifies, request an application and return completed forms to Soroptimist of Fort Collins. Email sifortcollins@hotmail.com for additional information.

Sunday, September 14, 2014

Welcome to Soroptimist International of Fort Collins


SIFC is an inter-generational club of northern Colorado women with varied expertise, passion, and skill.  

We have fabulous community friends and look forward to collaborating to improve the lives of women and girls, locally and throughout the world.

Fort Collins Club is one of 1,300 clubs in 19 countries and territories who work to improve the lives of women and girls in Soroptimist of the Americas Federation. 

Soroptimist International is a global volunteer movement working together to transform the lives of women and girls in four federations.

Our network of around 80,000 club members in 130 countries and territories works at a local, national and international level to educate, empower and enable opportunities for women & girls.

Soroptimists value:
  • Human rights for all
  • Global peace and international goodwill
  • Advancing women's potential
  • Integrity and democratic decision making
  • Volunteering, diversity and friendship


It takes a partnership of busy women, coming from varied backgrounds, with diverse ideas to improve the lives of future generations. Whether your primary concern is education, equality, domestic violence, bullying, health and wellness, self-sufficiency, trafficking, career advancement, or something else--you’ll find women with similar concerns in Soroptimist. 

We invite you to join us!


A Proud Committement to Service


Soroptimist Club Kicks off Year

SIFC’s September Program Meeting is scheduled:
  • in the Fort Collins Senior Center, Foxtail Room
  • at 6:30 pm, Tuesday September 16
  • refreshments will be served; $10.00 at the door with prior RSVP
  • Melissa Schaefer, chair of Poudre School District's Teen Parent Program will speak
  • those wishing to do so may donate diapers and/or children’s books to the program’s Teen Parent Closet
Interested? We welcome guests.

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Two Honored for Making a Difference for Women

Fort Collins Soroptimist is pleased to announce their 2014 Making a Difference for Women Awards. The Soroptimist Making a Difference for Women recognition honors ordinary women, who through their professional and personal efforts are making extraordinary differences in the lives of women and girls. This year’s awardees are Jennifer Jones, Executive Director of SAVA (Sexual Assault Victim Advocate Center) and Melissa Schaefer, program chair for the Poudre School District Teen Parent Program.

Jennifer Jones is a constant force for equality and empowerment in northern Colorado. Her professional and volunteer efforts focus on prevention of and recovery from domestic violence and sexual assault. Hundreds of northern Colorado women and girls have been touched by Jennifer’s efforts at Crossroads SafeHouse, and SAVA. 











Melissa Schaefer, the program chair for the Poudre School District Teen Parent Program, has been making an impact on the lives of teen parents for the past six years.  Melissa is the sole teacher of the teen parenting classes and teaches, assists and mentors students through some pretty difficult situations to prepare them for life after high school. Through her professional and personal efforts Melissa makes extraordinary differences in the lives of teen mothers.



Soroptimist of Fort Collins has recognized numerous outstanding women in the past.  Some of our past honorees include: Dr. Stace Scharfe, LouAnn DeCoursey, Sister Mary Alice Murphy, Victoria Lutz--Past Executive Director of Crossroads Safehouse, Julie Field, Mary Carraher and Nicole Gawronski of Project Self-Sufficiency, Wendy Stine of Harmony Foundation, Dr. Sue Ellen Charlton from CSU, Wendy Cohen of 2Hearts4Lacy, former State Senator Peggy Reeves, and Past Fort Collins Mayor Nancy Gray.

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Used Book Sale Fundraiser Deemed Success

Soroptimist International of Fort Collins is pleased to announce that the 2014 AAUW/Soroptimist Used Book Sale raised nearly $14,000 and successfully recycled donors' genty used books.




Net funds are divided between the two nonprofit groups and distributed to help women and families.







AAUW is a University/College Partner with Colorado State University and the proceeds of the sale help provide scholarships for AAUW E-Student Affiliates; and in our Poudre School District community.









Soroptimist International of Fort Collins provides awards to women who are head of household who need help with postsecondary education expenses, to high school girls for volunteer work and also to community organizations who improve the lives of women and girls.




The AAUW/Soroptimist annual Used Book Sale offers nonfiction, fiction, children's and vintage books.

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

FEMALE HEADS OF HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVE SOROPTIMIST FUNDING FOR EDUCATION

Congratulations to Jackie (left) and Lisa (right) for receipt of Soroptimist International of Fort Collins' 2014 Women's Opportunity Awards! These deserving northern Colorado women can use the funds provided by the Fort Collins Soroptimist Club to help offset the costs associated with continuing their education. (Also pictured in middle: Project Self-Sufficiency Advisor, Maggie.

The Women’s Opportunity Awards program is Soroptimist International of the Americas’ major service project. The Women’s Opportunity Awards program provides women who serve as the primary wage earners for their families with the financial resources to offset costs associated with their efforts to attain higher education or additional skills and training. The award can be used for tuition, books, childcare, carfare or any other education-related expense. This program, which begins on the club level, was created in 1972 to help women improve their ability to provide for their families. Each year, more than $1 million is provided in cash grants to women in need. Since the program’s inception in 1972, approximately $15 million in Women’s Opportunity Awards has been disbursed to about 25,000 women throughout the countries served by Soroptimist International of the America’s. Applications are accepted each fall with awards the following spring. Soroptimist International of Fort Collins is one of 1,500 clubs that make up Soroptimist International of the Americas.

Sunday, February 9, 2014

AAUW / Soroptimist Used Book Sale Returns to Mall--Nonprofits Recycle Books to Raise Service Funds

The AAUW/Soroptimist Used Book Sale is in full swing! The annual Used Book Sale allows two nonprofits to raise service funds while keeping gently used books out of our landfills. All books are recycled through the sale, donations to needy, or environmentally friendly means. 

Proceeds of the AAUW/Soroptimist Used Book Sale support numerous local and global projects benefiting women and girls. AAUW’s share of funds go to scholarships. Soroptimist’ share of funds have helped women and girls through domestic violence prevention and recovery initiatives including Crossroads Safehouse, 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, Homeless Gear, and Women’s Resource Center. Soroptimist offers financial awards, including Women’s Opportunity Awards (supporting women heads of households), Violet Richardson Awards (encouraging teen girls engaged in volunteerism), and local Making a Difference for Women recognitions. Used Book Sale proceeds also allow Soroptimist to support many impressive global service projects through international affiliations, such as Children of Peace (Vietnamese orphanages), Help Uganda (education) and Soroptimist International of the Americas Disaster Relief Fund.

The AAUW/Soroptimist Used Book Sale has become a well known local event. 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. 

We depend on the generous donations of the community to make this event a reality.  Private donors throughout northern Colorado join Old Firehouse Books in donating gently used books throughout the year. Organizers estimate that they will sort nearly 40,000 books by sale date. 

This year’s sale is “back” inside Foothills Mall in Fort Collins. Please take advantage of the opportunity to “recycle” your gently used books and restock your shelves. Our nonprofits can accept book donations through Tuesday, February 25. Shopping starts at 8:00 am February 28 and ends on Sunday March 2 at 6:00 pm. 


Thanks for helping us support women, girls and the environment!

Saturday, February 1, 2014

SI FC Looks Forward to Sharing 2014 Service Funds--Club Grant Form Now Available

Soroptimist International of Fort Collins is seeking to identify possible recipients to share Club's 2013-14 service funds. Please let us know how your organization would use Soroptimist funds to improve the lives of women and/or girls. 
  1. Soroptimist International of Fort Collins is currently accepting letters of application for community grants up to $1000.00.
  2. Soroptimist service funds must be used to benefit women and /or girls. 
  3. The application letter must specify how the funds will be used and the benefits provided for this service.  For programs that provide services for men and women, please explain how the funds will be used to help women or girls.

Email sifortcollins@hotmail.com to request a club grant application form. Proposals must be submitted via email by March 1st, 2014.
Recipients will be notified prior to spring fund distribution.