Contribution will help raise awareness and contribute to other Soroptimist programs

July 16, 2007
Contact: Jessica Levinson, Communications Director
215-893-9000 x129

PHILADELPHIA, Pa.—Soroptimist International of the Americas, an international volunteer organization for business and professional women, recently received a $25,000 donation from its Glendale, California, club—the largest single gift from a club in Soroptimist history.

Soroptimist comprises approximately 95,000 members in more than 120 countries and territories worldwide who contribute time and financial support to community-based projects that benefit women and girls. The organization will use the generous contribution to fund programs that benefit women and girls around the world, including its new project aimed at raising awareness about sexual trafficking. The project will launch on December 2, 2007, the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, and will shed light on this complex issue.

Sexual trafficking is the movement of women and children, within national or across international borders, for the purposes of prostitution or other forms of commercial sexual exploitation. It includes the recruitment, transportation, harboring, transfer or sale of women and children for these purposes. Through this project, Soroptimist clubs around the world will distribute information cards and flyers, as well as coordinate public events drawing attention to this devastating problem, which occurs in every country around the world.

“Human trafficking and sexual slavery has been a concern of many of our members for some time. The Los Angeles area has been a major hub for this scourge on our society and yet we hadn't been able to put a program in place to help with bringing an awareness of it to the public,” said Mary Lou Rhodes, president of the Glendale, California, Soroptimist club.

“When we learned that Soroptimist had a project in development for this very thing, our members were thrilled to be able to help with the funding to launch this program,” added Rhodes.  “Our club is pleased to join our international organization in this and other important ventures to improve the lives of women and girls.”

Soroptimist will recognize the Glendale club, which is part of the organization’s Camino Real Region, for its record-breaking contribution at its upcoming conference in August.

“Soroptimist International of Glendale is a leader among clubs and its extraordinary commitment to Soroptimist programs is commendable,” said Soroptimist’s Executive Director Leigh Wintz. “We are grateful that this generous donation will help us fund such important projects.”

For more information about sexual trafficking and what can be done to help, read Soroptimist’s exclusive whitepaper, “Women and Trafficking,” located on the Soroptimist website.

Soroptimist, a 501(c)(3) organization, is a recipient of the Pennsylvania Association of Nonprofit Organizations’ Seal of Excellence. 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.  For more information about how Soroptimist improves the lives of women and girls, visit www.soroptimist.org.

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