Soroptimist Grants Transform Lives for More than 8,000 Women and Girls

November 6, 2007
Contact:  Kamali Brooks, Public Relations Manager, 215-893-9000 x130

Philadelphia, Pa.—Think about it. A little less than $20 to change the life of a woman or girl for the better. Soroptimist clubs not only thought about it. They did it.

In 2006-2007, Soroptimist—a volunteer organization for business and professional women that works to improve the lives of women and girls, in local communities and throughout the world—awarded $166,000 in Soroptimist Club Grants for Women and Girls to 24 Soroptimist clubs in countries including the United States, Japan, Brazil and the Philippines.

The projects helped 8,472 women and their children. That breaks down to $19.59 per cost of a life changed.

Started in 1997, the Soroptimist Club Grants for Women and Girls program provides between $1,000 and $100,000 in grant monies for outstanding Soroptimist club projects that positively impact the lives of women and girls. Soroptimist clubs apply for the grants that enable them to start or continue innovative, outstanding projects in their local communities. Since the program began, more than $1.4 million has been disbursed to 228 Soroptimist club projects, benefiting more than 100,000 women and their families.

“The Soroptimist organization recognizes that the desire of local Soroptimist clubs to help women and girls sometimes surpasses their resources,” said Leigh Wintz, executive director of Soroptimist, headquartered in Philadelphia. “We’re thrilled that with grant-winning clubs were able to help more than 8,000 women and children this year.”

The Cumberland County, N.J., Soroptimist club, for example, was awarded a $10,000 grant and helped 217 women and girls recovering from drug and alcohol dependency. Many of these women had been at Seabrook House, an addiction treatment center, and were transitioning into the community.

“Funds were used to purchase job training equipment, including computers, printers and educational software,” Wintz said. “Club members also conducted a variety of workshops, including GED training and resume writing. In addition, members established Jane’s Closet, a room with business attire and accessories offered to the women at no cost.”

The Mesa Inc., Ariz., Soroptimist club members used their $7,500 grant funds to help 200 women and children at a domestic violence shelter, where they remodeled and furnished the laundry room. This included purchase of washers, dryers, linens, cribs and laundry supplies.

“Club members also painted the laundry room, organized the storage of donated items to the shelter and participated in activities and educational programs for children of the shelter,” Wintz said. “In addition, they purchased a computer for the resource room.”

The Founder Manila Club in the Philippines used its $5,000 grant to provide free computer training sessions to 50 women and 50 girls, while the Kyoto-Miyako club in Japan put its $3,500 grant funds toward construction of an additional room at a domestic violence shelter, helping 30 women. This project is particularly noteworthy in that domestic violence is not widely recognized or discussed in Japanese society, although this is beginning to change thanks to Soroptimist and other women’s organizations in Japan.

With its $10,000 grant, the Takamatsu Club in Japan helped 375 women over age 40 to receive free mammogram services. Many had never had a mammogram before, with club members advertising the exams, providing childcare during and facilitating cancer survivor support groups.

“In awarding these grants, we feel privileged to live our mission,” Wintz added, “and we’re grateful to clubs and their members for their tireless work and commitment to empowering the world’s women and girls.”

Soroptimist, a 501 c (3) organization, offers programs that improve social and economic conditions for women and girls. Programs include the Women’s Opportunity Awards, which provides cash grants for head-of-household women seeking to improve their lives with the help of additional education and training. Each year, more than $1 million is disbursed through this award-winning program. In recognition of the power of women and their dreams, Soroptimist also sponsors the Live Your Dream campaign. Visit the campaign’s online home at: www.liveyourdreamcampaign.org. Visit Soroptimist’s main site at www.soroptimist.org to learn more about the organization and its work on behalf of the world’s women and girls.

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