Soroptimist Seeks Outstanding Women and Girls--Deadlines Approach for Financial Awards and Recognition

Fort Collins Soroptimist is seeking applicants for our annual women's awards. We look forward to reaching eligible applicants. 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, 2011. 

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, 2011.

Fort Collins Soroptimist’ Living Her Dream Awards help local women live her dreams. Any woman may apply when she: has earned a high school diploma or GED, has a passion and plan to live her dream (such as education, job training, internship, starting a business, or working for a nonprofit), has identified a dream and is taking steps to achieve it, and works for the betterment of women and/or girls. This year’s Living Her Dream Award recipient will receive $1000 to help her live her dream. Applications must be received on or before January 1, 2012.

Email sifortcollins@hotmail.com to request applications.

Purchase Nuts and Butter Braids and Help Fund Soroptimist Service

It’s that time again. Yes, the annual nut, candy and butter braid 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, SAVA (Sexual Assault Victim’s Advocacy) and Homeless Gear; education and career advancement initiatives including Project Self-Sufficiency; and quality of life projects including Hearts and Horses, Journey Conference for Young Girls, 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 (tuition), Project SIerra (helping women in Sierra Leone) 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), Ruby award (formerly Making a Difference for Women), Violet Richardson Award (for teen girls engaged in volunteer activities), and our new Living Her Dream Award.
 
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 is a festive loaf-style pastry that comes frozen. A real bargain at just $12 each, they can be prepared easily and come in six flavors: Sticky Pecan (new), Cherry, Apple, Blueberry Cream Cheese, Cinnamon, Cream Cheese, and Almond Cream.
 
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!

You are invited . . .

Are you a women who cares about helping other women? Soroptimist is an organization for and by women who use their collective power to help other women transform their lives and the lives of their families--locally and throughout the world.

Join us at our informal upcoming event.