Soroptimist Offers Cash Grant to Women for Education or Training

Women who are the primary wage earners for their families and need financial

assistance to continue their education or receive training can now apply for the Soroptimist Live Your Dream: Education and Training Awards for Women (formerly the Soroptimist Women’s Opportunity Awards).

Soroptimist International of Calaveras County Applications is hosting an information night on Monday, October 20, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Round Table Pizza in Angles Camps. 

The Live Your Dreams award provides up to $1,000 in a cash grant.  The winner of the Calaveras County award will advance to the Sierra Pacific Region competition where they can receive an additional $5,000.  The program culminates with three finalists receiving a Soroptimist International of the Americas grant of $10,000 each.  

 

Application forms will be available at the workshop and are also available as an electronic fillable form at www.soroptimist.org.  The deadline to submit an application for the Live Your Dreams award is November 15, 2014.

Recipients can use the Live Your Dream Award to offset costs associated with their efforts to attain higher education or additional skills and training. This includes tuition, books, childcare, car repair, car fare, or any other similar expense.

The Live Your Dream Award provides more than $1.6 million in cash grants to head-of-household women in need each year. Since the program’s inception in 1972, approximately $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.

Soroptimist International of Calaveras County is part of Soroptimist International of the Americas, a global organization that works to improve the lives of women and girls through programs leading to social and economic empowerment.

Information about the local Soroptimist club can be found at www.sicalaverascounty.org.