(From press release) Women who serve as the primary wage earners for their families and seek financial assistance to further their education or training are urged to apply for the Soroptimist Live Your Dream: Education and Training Awards for Women.
Applications are available at https://bit.ly/LYDA-apply, or by emailing Soroptimist International of Davis at sidavis@soroptimist.net.
The application deadline is Sunday, Nov. 15. This year, the Davis club will present several awards, ranging between $500 and $3,000. The top recipient’s application will advance to regional and international level, where they could receive thousands more (like last year’s winner!). The program culminates with three $10,000 awards. Recipients may use the Live Your Dream Award to offset any costs associated with their efforts to attain higher education or additional skills and training. This includes tuition, books, childcare, transportation or any other education-related expense.
The Live Your Dream Award provides more than $2 million in cash grants to head-of-household women in need each year. Since the program’s inception in 1972, more than $30 million has helped tens of thousands of women achieve their dreams of a better life for themselves and their families.
A study conducted by The Fels Institute of Government, a research and consulting organization based at the University of Pennsylvania, confirmed the efficacy and impact of this program. It improves the recipients’ quality of life; builds their confidence; strengthens their self-determination and makes them want to, in turn, help others. Helping women in this way has the demonstrated effect of leading to stronger communities, nations and the world.
Besides the Live Your Dream Award, the club provides local girls with tools to achieve their education and career goals through its Dream It, Be It: Career Support for Girls program at King High School. It also funds high school scholarships, grants to nonprofits that align with the Soroptimist mission, and anti-trafficking efforts. Members are meeting virtually.
For 25 years, SI Davis’ primary fundraiser has been selling beer and wine at the Davis Farmers Market. All of those 2020 proceeds were lost when Picnic in the Park was canceled for 2020. They’re planning an online auction and soup dinner on Nov. 19. Watch for more details on the takeout meal, which will be available for pickup at Sudwerk Brewing Co. Meanwhile, donations are being accepted to support its programs and projects. For more information, visit https://sidavis.org or follow its Facebook or Instagram pages: @SoroptimistDavis.
Soroptimist is a global volunteer organization that provides women and girls with access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment. It was founded in Oakland in 1921. Davis was chartered in 1954. Local members join some 75,000 Soroptimists in 122 countries and territories to contribute time and financial support to community-based projects benefiting women and girls. Its core values are gender equality, empowerment, education, diversity and fellowship.
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