WHAT WE DO
Programs, Projects & Partnerships
Soroptimists are a global voice for women. We amplify our voices and actions to not only help the victims of social inequality and human rights abuses but also to address the social, environmental, and economic factors that are root causes. The work achieved through our programs, projects, and partnerships provides opportunities to educate, empower and enable women and girls to live their dreams.
Live Your Dream Education & Training Awards for Women
The Soroptimist Live Your Dream Awards 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 $1.6 million in education grants are awarded to more than 1,200 women, many of whom have overcome enormous obstacles including poverty, domestic violence and/or drug and alcohol abuse. Live Your Dream Awards recipients may use the cash award to offset any costs associated with their efforts to attain higher education, such as books, childcare, tuition, and transportation.
Since the Live Your Dream Awards program began in 1972, about $30 million in education grants have been disbursed to assist tens of thousands of women achieve their dreams of a better life for themselves and their families. In 2007, the program received the Association’s Advance America Summit Award—ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership’s highest level of recognition. Annually, more than $1.6 million in education grants are awarded to more than 1,200 women, many of whom have overcome enormous obstacles including poverty, domestic violence, trafficking, sexual assault, teen pregnancy, and/or drug and alcohol abuse.
Dream It Be It: Mentoring and Career Support for Girls
Dream It, Be It is a mentoring and education program for girls in secondary school who face obstacles to their future success. It provides girls with access to professional role models, career education, and resources to live their dreams. Through Dream It, Be It, Soroptimist clubs provide girls who face obstacles with guidance, training, and resources that will prepare them for career success. We intervene at just the right time to put girls on a path to a brighter future.
This award-winning program helps teen girls grow up to be confident, happy, successful adults by providing access to professional role models, career education, and the resources to live their dreams.
Since its launch in 2015, more than 84,000 girls have participated in a Dream It, Be It program.
Soroptimist Village Affordable Senior Housing
Soroptimist Village is not only a great place to live; it’s a dream come true for many seniors. These modest but well-maintained garden apartments have been designed and maintained by the property and office manager. As a cherished Legacy Project, the Board of Directors is diligent in its oversite in all capacities.
Soroptimist Village consists of a mix of forty-seven units; singles and one-bedrooms. They are rented to qualified seniors or disabled persons, at under-market, subsidized rents in a partnership with Norwalk Housing Authority.
Frequently referred to as “The Village” the units are garden-like, one-level apartments, appointed with full kitchens, bathrooms, air conditioning, and patios. Wandering through the meanders of the walkways, one might think these are privately owned rather than rentals. Parking spaces located near the units are available for those residents who own a car and there are parking stalls for visitors located at the front of the property. For the non-drivers, there is a bus stop just across the street from the property as well as transportation available through other programs. Other appointments include the Barbara Riley Social Hall/Recreation Center, on-site Administrator & Handyman, and on-site laundry facilities. With Norwalk Community Hospital and Emergency Room only one block away, and other medical professionals and pharmacies in the vicinity, plus a church right next door, The Village is an ideal place to reside.
Awards for Women in the Military
Many women in the United States Military are in financial need in order to improve their quality of life and/or fulfill their career goals. The Award aids the recipient in a broad spectrum of social and economic challenges faced by women in the military to help in the pursuit of a vocation or education degree.
Many women in the military face challenges when returning to civilian life that are different from those of their male counterparts, including raising children on their own or dealing with the psychological after effects of events such as post traumatic stress disorder or sexual discrimination and abuse. These issues, without intervention, can put women in the military at risk.
We hope you will take a moment to review our current projects and find the ones that speak to your heart. We invite you to join with us to help those who most need our help. “Great opportunities to help others seldom come, but small ones surround us every day,” Sally Koch.
Helpline Youth Counseling
Founded in 1967 by a group of parents concerned about rising levels of juvenile delinquency, drug and alcohol use, gang affiliation, violence, and child abuse, Helpline Youth Counseling was incorporated in 1971 with the primary purpose of providing counseling and assistance to at-risk, low-income children, youth and their families. Since its inception, HYC has been eliminating barriers and creating opportunities for its clients. Through its comprehensive and holistic array of programs, HYC supports and strengthens families and their resources to enhance their resiliency and help them attain self-sufficiency.
We believe everyone can embrace who they are, can define their future, and can change the world.
The mission of Helpline Youth Counseling is to help build individual, family, and community health, well-being, prosperity, and equity. HYC serves clients and community members with trauma-informed, strength-based prevention, early intervention, education, and treatment services.
Big Goal Accelerator Project
We believe in the power of dreaming big. That’s why we’ve set a goal of investing in the dreams of half a million women and girls. That’s four times the number of women and girls we currently reach. It’s a big, audacious goal. But no more audacious than the courage and resolve of the women and girls our Dream Programs will impact.
We work to raise awareness of issues of global concern affecting women and girls. We also advocate for policy commitments and social changes that will improve the status of women and promote sustainable communities. Our work increases access to education for women and girls who are facing obstacles, which leads to economic empowerment.
Each woman and girl we help has a story. Each has a dream. They dream of achieving success on their own terms. They dream of raising healthy families and giving back to their communities. They dream of a day when violence and inequality will no longer stand in their way. You can help make dreams come true for women and girls.
Custody to Community Transitional Reentry GED Program
The Custody to Community Transitional Reentry Program (CCTRP) allows eligible female individuals with serious and violent crimes, as well as non-serious committed to State prison to serve their sentence in the community at a CCTRP as designated by the Department, in lieu of confinement in State prison and at the discretion of the Secretary. The CCTRP will provide a range of rehabilitative services that assist with alcohol and drug recovery, employment, education, housing, family reunification, and social support.
Under CCTRP, one day of participation counts as one day of incarceration in State prison, and participants in the program are also eligible to receive any sentence reductions that they would have received had they served their sentence in State prison. Participants may be returned to an institution to serve the remainder of their term at any time with or without cause.
Female participants who volunteer for CCTRP will be placed into the program with a minimum of 45 days and a maximum of 32 months to participate prior to their release date. All of the participants receiving services through the CCTRP will be required to reside at the CCTRP program. CDCR will have the final decision regarding program placements and retains the right to remove participants from the program at any time.
Soroptimist Workplace Campaign to End Domestic Violence
Soroptimists distribute thousands of hotline cards, and hold lectures and events to raise awareness about domestic violence as a workplace concern. In addition, members encourage places of business to adopt formal guidelines designed to protect employees and (their co-workers) from domestic violence situations. The campaign earned an Award of Excellence from the American Society of Association Executives and the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence’s Allies Against Violence Award.
Soroptimist introduced Club Grants in 1997 to assist with community projects that improve the lives of women and girls. Each year the Soroptimist organization funds about $125,000 in club grants. Since the program’s inception, nearly $1.4 million has been awarded and clubs have assisted more than 100,000 women and their families.
Measuring Success
%
of Live Your Dream Award recipients earned or continue to pursue a degree or certificate.
%
of Live Your Dream Award recipients who completed their degree secured higher-paying employment.
%
of Live Your Dream Award recipients report the award has increased their self-esteem.
%
of teenage Dream It Be It participants reported feeing more confident about their future success.
%
of teenage Dream It Be It participants reported feeling more prepared to pursue their career goals.
%
of teenage Dream It Be It participants created achievable goals for their future.
Shaping a Better Future for Women & Girls
We are committed to serving local, national, and international communities. Soroptimist leaders, regions, clubs, members, and donors tirelessly dedicate their energy and passion to shaping the future. Together, we work on life-changing programs that aim to fulfill our important mission. It is this collective action that has made a transformative impact on the lives of the women and girls we serve.
This is accomplished through a broad program of service covering six vital areas:
Human Rights
Women and girls are empowered by being afforded human rights and freedom from all forms of abuse and violence.
Education
Women and girls are enabled to achieve their full potential throughout their lifetime.
Social & Economic
Women live and work in safe and equitable environments with equal opportunities for advancement.
Health
Women and girls have optimal mental and physical health throughout all stages of their lifespan.
Environmental
We are equal partners in the process of managing natural resources, maintaining biodiversity, and achieving sustainable communities.
International
Women and girls are equal partners in the attainment of world peace, tolerance, and understanding.