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!