International women’s organization distributes more than $1.5 million in award money

August 2, 2007
Contact: Jessica Levinson, Communications Director
215-893-9000 x129

PHILADELPHIA, Pa.—Soroptimist, an international volunteer organization for business and professional women whose mission is to improve the lives of women and girls in local communities and throughout the world, recently honored the 2007 finalists of its Women’s Opportunity, Making a Difference for Women and Violet Richardson awards. In total, more than $1.5 million was disbursed through these programs at various levels of the organization.

Women’s Opportunity Awards
Dawn Zolman of Oxnard, California, Kazuko Kojima of Morioka City, Iwate-ken, Japan, and Maria Del Carmen Flores Colque of Oruro, Bolivia were the three finalists to receive the Women’s Opportunity Award, Soroptimist’s major project. The program provides women who serve as the primary wage earners for their families with financial resources to offset costs associated with their efforts to attain higher education or additional skills and training. The program begins at the Soroptimist club level, where award amounts vary. Club level recipients then become eligible for a $5,000 cash award. Three finalists receive an additional $10,000. The awards can be used for tuition, books, childcare, carfare or any other education-related expense.

After a childhood filled with physical, emotional and sexual abuse, Dawn Zolman ran away from home, and became a single mother at 16.  For a time, she and her daughter were financially bereft and homeless. However, Zolman believed in her parenting skills, her love of children, and a strong desire to do something positive with her life. Mother and daughter eventually moved into a transitional living facility where Zolman concentrated on working and supporting her daughter. Unfortunately she hit a setback when her own mother committed suicide. Despite the resulting anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder, Zolman followed her calling—working as a substitute teacher for her local school district, as well as a kindergarten enrichment teacher for the local YMCA.  She went on to earn an associate teaching certificate, and is now working to obtain a bachelor’s degree and teaching credentials while working full-time and raising her teenage daughter.  Remarked Zolman: “I can’t even begin to express how many different ways this Women’s Opportunity Awards experience has helped me.”

Kazuko Kojima first attempted suicide in eighth grade. In order to fund his business, her abusive, alcoholic father sold Kojima’s body to a wealthy older man. “As a result, I could not trust adults anymore and I did not want to continue living,” she said. Kojima, a strong young woman, was able to recover and after graduating from high school, she started her own business. However, her life took a turn for the worst when her parents tricked her into returning home, seized her money and belongings, and forced her to marry a man of their choosing. Later, when her husband became violent and abusive toward Kojima and their three children, they divorced and Kojima reasserted control over her life. She maintained two jobs, but was still plagued with guilt from her emotionally abusive family, and overwhelmed by life’s pressures. One day, she went to a local train station after deciding to end her life by jumping in front of a train. She was stopped by a stranger. “This person told me t I was here to save others, so I should not die,” Kojima said. “That is when I first felt a sense of purpose and began to realize what I wanted to do.” Currently, Kojima works as an aide to the elderly in a retirement home, and is studying for a counseling degree so she can help others overcome their problems.

Maria Del Carmen Flores Colque became pregnant at age 15, and immediately entered into the work force. She gave birth to two more children, but her daily life soon became a nightmare. She suffered psychological, physical and sexual abuse at the hands of her husband, who would sporadically throw Colque and her children out of the house. After he beat her nearly to death, she lay in the hospital and swore that she would not return to her former life. To support herself and her children, Colque sold pastries in the market and washed others’ clothing. She recently began studying to become a nurse’s assistant. Says Colque of the Women’s Opportunity Awards program, “I feel that this award is my opportunity to achieve what was always my dream, complete my studies, be able to improve my children’s standard of living, and show all women that … where there is a will, there is a way.”

As recipients of the Women’s Opportunity Awards, these three women can achieve their educational goals and provide better lives for their families. Each year, more than  $1 million is provided in cash grants at various levels of the organization to women in need. Since the program’s inception in 1972, approximately $20 million in Women’s Opportunity Awards has been disbursed to about 25,000 women throughout the countries served by Soroptimist International of the Americas.

Making a Difference for Women Award
Mardge Cohen of Chicago, Illinois, is the recipient of Soroptimist’s 2007 Making a Difference for Women Award, which acknowledges the efforts of women who through their personal or professional activities work to improve the lives of women and girls. The program begins on the club level, where the type of recognition varies. Award recipients 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.

Cohen received this award in recognition of her work as an advocate and activist for HIV-infected women in Chicago and Rwanda.

Nineteen years ago, Cohen founded the Women and Children HIV Clinic at Chicago’s Cook County Hospital. The program was the first comprehensive program in the nation devoted to HIV-affected women, adolescents, life partners, and children. Three times a year, Cohen volunteers in HIV clinics in Rwanda, and this past year, hosted a successful campaign to raise consciousness about women with HIV and funds for further work in Rwanda. She also co-founded Women’s Equity in Access to Care and Treatment for HIV/AIDS (WE-ACTx), which supports three Rwandan HIV clinics. “I am particularly interested in helping the young women who I have met in Rwanda to find the confidence and resources to build healthy families and a strong community,” Cohen said.

During the Rwandan genocide, it is estimated that 120,000 women were infected with AIDS. Cohen uses the knowledge she gains from her work in both Chicago and Rwanda to write research papers that address this global epidemic and search for solutions. For this award, Cohen received a total of $17,000 from Soroptimist and the local club that nominated her, Soroptimist International of Chicago. She will donate her money to her two organizations.

Violet Richardson Award
Veronica Matagaono of Signal Hill, Calfornia, is the recipient of Soroptimist’s 2007 Violet Richardson Award, which recognizes young women between the ages of 14 and 17 for volunteer service to their communities. Despite an unstable home environment and the untimely death of her father, Matagaono dedicated herself to her high school’s WRAP program, which promotes non-violence among teenagers. Within the program, Matagaono became a peer counselor, and started an “Anti-Violence Committee” in which students act out skits that portray violence issues affecting teenagers. “I love to volunteer and will do it for the rest of my life,” Matagaono said.

The Violet Richardson Award program begins on the Soroptimist club level, where award amounts vary. Club-level recipients then become eligible for a $1,000 cash award, with a matching $1,500 cash award for the charitable organization of the recipient’s choosing. 
Soroptimist, headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is an international volunteer organization for business and professional women who work to improve the lives of women and girls, in local communities and throughout the world. The Women’s Opportunity Awards program, which provides cash grants for head-of-household women seeking to improve their economic situation through additional education and training, is Soroptimist’s major project. Soroptimist sponsors the Live Your Dream campaign in recognition of the power of women and their dreams. Visit the campaign's online home at: <www.liveyourdreamcampaign.org>. Soroptimist, a 501(c)(3) organization, is a recipient of the Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations’ Seal of Excellence. For more information on how Soroptimist improves the lives of women and girls, visit www.soroptimist.org.

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