INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S VOLUNTEER ORGANIZATION WINS "ASSOCIATIONS ADVANCE AMERICA" SUMMIT AWARD

ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership Acknowledge Soroptimist Women's Opportunity Awards Program

September 26, 2007
Contacts: Jessica Levinson, Communications Director, 215-893-9000 x129
Kamali Brooks, Public Relations Manager, 215-893-9000 x130

PHILADELPHIA, Pa.—Soroptimist International of the Americas, an international volunteer organization of business and professional women dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls, received the Associations Advance America Summit Award—ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership's highest level of recognition—for its Women's Opportunity Awards, a program that helps women reclaim their dreams through cash grants for higher education.

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 Women's Opportunity Awards is Soroptimist's major project. It provides women with cash grants to offset costs associated with their efforts to attain higher education and additional skills training, which will help improve their economic status. Unlike other award programs, the Women's Opportunity Awards can be used for books, child care, transportation or any other expense that will help a woman reach her educational goal.

Soroptimist accepted the award during the 8th Annual Summit Awards Dinner at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C. on September 25.

"We were ecstatic to receive this grand award, and to be recognized as an association that implements innovative community-based programs," said Soroptimist President Tes Choa. "Our philosophy is if you help a woman, you help a family. If you help a family, you help a whole community. Our Women's Opportunity Awards program is a means of empowering women … helping to get them back on their feet, able to work, and be a productive part of their communities."

Each year, Soroptimist disburses more than $1 million to help women reclaim their dreams of a better life for themselves and their family. Since 1972, Soroptimist has disbursed about $20 million and helped more than 25,000 women through this program.

One recent example is Dawn Zolman. After suffering through a childhood of profound abuse and neglect from her parents, Zolman ran away from home at 16. By the age of 17, she found herself pregnant. The relationship she had with her daughter's father was abusive and ended quickly. With no one to turn to and nowhere to go, Zolman and her daughter were left homeless. Years later when Zolman began piecing her life together, her dreams were dashed again when her mother committed suicide.

Despite the challenges she endured, Zolman wanted to become a teacher and, above all, a better mother to her now teenage daughter. With the help of three Soroptimist Women's pportunity Awards (at various levels of the organization) totaling $18,000, Zolman is staying in school, supporting herself and her daughter, and striving to achieve her dreams.

"I can't even begin to express how many different ways this experience has helped me," Zolman said. "The financial benefit is obvious, but it is also rewarding to be a part of something where women give other women the opportunity to grow and become strong. The Women's Opportunity Awards program gives us strength."

The Soroptimist Women's Opportunity Awards first received ASAE & The Center's 2007 Award of Excellence before going onto the next level to receive the Summit Award, the highest-ranking award. In 2006, the Women's Opportunity Awards program received an honorable mention. The ASAE awards are presented annually to recognize the valuable economic and societal contributions made by associations around the world.

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

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