SOROPTIMIST
INTERNATIONAL
OF MARIN COUNTY

Women's Opportunity Award

The Women’s Opportunity Awards program is Soroptimist’s major service project. The awards improve the lives of women by giving them the resources they need to improve their education, skills, and employment prospects. Each year, Soroptimist clubs in 19 countries and territories assist women in overcoming personal difficulties and improving their lives through education and skills training. The women, who provide the primary source of financial support for their families, may use the cash award to offset any costs associated with their efforts to attain higher education, including books, childcare and transportation. Club recipients become eligible for additional cash awards at other levels of the organization, including three $10,000 finalist awards.

Program Structure

The program begins on the club level. The Marin Soroptimist Club is awarding $750. Club-level recipients become eligible for additional awards at other levels of the organization. In addition, Soroptimist grants three $10,000 finalist awards each year. Soroptimist disburses more than $1 million annually through this program 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 the Women’s Opportunity Awards program.

How To Apply For the Women's Opportunity Awards

Deadline:

Applications are due each year on December 1. Applications must be emailed to the region contact by December 1 so they can be forwarded to a local club before the December 15 club deadline. This year's Women's Opportunity Award is for $750.

Step 1: Determine if you are eligible

Eligible applicants must be women who:

Provide the primary financial support for her family (including children, spouse, siblings and/or parents)
Have financial need
Are enrolled in or have been accepted to a vocational/skills training program or an undergraduate degree program
Reside in one of Soroptimist International of the Americas’ member countries/territories (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guam, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Taiwan, United States of America, Venezuela).
Have not previously been the recipient of a Soroptimist Women’s Opportunity Award; are not a Soroptimist member, employee or immediate family of either.

Step 2: Click here to download the application.

Note: Once all parts of the form are completed, select "Save As" from the "File" menu and change the file name (for example, "woaonlineappLG.pdf," where "LG" are your initials.) Click "Save."

Step 3: Obtain References

You will need two different people to fill out the reference form (Click here to download ReferenceForm.pdf). Please email this form to your references and request that they email the forms back to you when completed.

Step 4: Email your application

Completed applications must be emailed to our Awards Chair, Evelyn Deane at ermdeane@marinsoroptimist.org or mailed to: Soroptimist International of Marin County, P.O. Box 150704, San Rafael, CA 94915-0704 by December 1, 2009. If you have any questions, contact Evelyn Deane at 415-456-2853.

IMPORTANT!

Applications submitted directly to Soroptimist headquarters in Philadelphia will NOT be considered.