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Awards

Fellowship Award

The mission of Soroptimist is to improve the lives of women and girls. As such, the Northwestern Region annually presents a Fellowship Award to a woman who resides in Washington, Oregon, Montana, Alaska or Northern Idaho, who is working towards a post-graduate degree.

The goal is to support women who are working in fields that have great social importance to the world and are under-represented by women. It is the organization’s hope that the recipient's work will reflect and further Soroptimist ideals. We believe that the Fellowship Award recipients will become a strong voice for all women.

Soroptimist International of Klamath Falls is soliciting applications for the Fellowship Award in our 2011 - 2012 club year, with our recipient then being sent on to be considered for the Northwestern Region Award.

We will focus on giving this award to women from our community, however, they do not necessarily need to be attending a local college. Please click here for a copy of the award requirements and application. The award application deadline is January 10, 2012.

Violet Richardson Award

Named for the president of the first Soroptimist club, the Soroptimist Violet Richardson Award honors girls who are making a difference through volunteer service. Each year, we honor girls who donate their time and energy to causes that make the community and world a better place—such as working to end discrimination and poverty, assisting women and children who are victims of domestic violence, or mentoring young girls.

The program begins on the Soroptimist club level, with club recipients becoming eligible for additional awards at other levels of our organization. Ultimiately one winner is chosen to receive the finalist award, which includes a contribution of $2,500 to the charitable organization of the recipient's choice.

Woman's Opportunity Award

This program is Soroptimist's major project. Through the program, clubs in 19 countries and territories assist 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 $1.5 million is disbursed through cash awards at various levels of the organization. Recipients, many of whom have overcome enormous obstacles including poverty, domestic violence, and drug and alcohol abuse, may use the awards to offset any costs associated with their efforts to attain higher education, such as books, childcare and transportation.

Eligible applicants must be women who provide the primary financial support for their families, and who are enrolled in or have been accepted to a vocational/skills training program or an undergraduate degree program. Applicants must demonstrate financial need. Only residents of Soroptimist International of the Americas' 19 member countries and territories are eligible to apply.

Since the Women's Opportunity Awards program began in 1972, about $25 million has been disbursed to help tens of thousands of women achieve their dreams of a better life for themselves and their families. In 2007, the Women's Opportunity Awards received the Associations Advance America Summit Award—ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership's highest level of recognition.

RUBY (formerly known as Making a Difference for Women)

The Soroptimist Ruby Award: For Women Helping Women acknowledges women who are working to improve the lives of women and girls through their personal or professional activities. Their efforts help to promote the issues that are important to the Soroptimist organization. Honorees are women who have worked in extraordinary ways to benefit women and girls.

Examples of the type of work honored include: spearheading an effort to open a domestic violence shelter, working to secure health services for low-income women, starting a mentoring program for at-risk girls, or lobbing companies to provide on-site child care. The program enables local Soroptimist clubs and the Soroptimist organization to thank these women and encourage others to explore ways to assist women and girls.

The program begins on the club level, where the type of recognition varies. Award winners at the club level are eligible for additional awards at other levels of the organization. The finalist receives a $5,000 donation to the charitable organization of her choice.