SOROPTIMIST
INTERNATIONAL
OF MARIN COUNTY

Violet Richardson Award

Named for the president of the first Soroptimist club, the Violet Richardson Award honors girls who are making a difference through volunteer service. Each year, Soroptimist clubs honor girls who donate their time and energy to causes that make the community and world a better place— such as working to end discrimination and poverty, assisting women and children who are victims of domestic violence, or mentoring young girls.

It’s What You Do That Counts!

Are you a young woman between the ages of 14 and 17 who volunteers in your community or school? Who sees challenges instead of obstacles? Hope instead of despair? If you are a young woman who believes in the power of volunteer action, then you may be eligible to win a Soroptimist Violet Richardson Award.

The Violet Richardson Award recognizes young women who make the community and world a better place through volunteer efforts such as: fighting drugs, crime and violence; cleaning up the environment; and working to end discrimination and poverty. Volunteer actions that benefit women or girls are of particular interest.

Program Structure

The Violet Richardson Award program begins at the local Soroptimist club level, where the Marin Club will award $750 to one winner. That winner will then become eligible for one of 28 $1,000 awards. In addition, $1,000 will be contributed in honor of these winners to their volunteer organizations. One finalist will be chosen from among the 28 winners for an additional award, including a contribution of $2,500 to the finalist’s volunteer organization.

To download the Violet Richardson Award Brochure to give to someone you know might be interested, click here.

Apply For The Violet Richardson Award

If you think you would make a good Violet Richardson Award candidate, please complete this application online by filling out the fields below, or download the application by clicking on the button below "Download Award Application" and following directions on the application.

Good luck! And, even if you don’t win a Violet Richardson Award, we applaud your efforts to make your community and the world a better place.

All fields with an asterisk * are required. Completed applications must be submitted no later than December 1, 2009. Eligible applicants are currently between the ages of 14 and 17, have demonstrated initiative in both identifying a problem and trying to solve it, and have had significant and noteworthy accomplishments as volunteers.

First Name *
Middle Initial
Last Name *
Date Of Birth: *
Email Address: *
Address: *
City *
State *
Zip: *
Phone: *

Name of the Organization where you volunteer: *

Phone number for Volunteer Organization: *


Essay: Write an essay up to 750 words. Tell us where you volunteer and why. Describe the goals of the organization and its impact on the probelm(s) it addresses. What is your role in the organization? What have you accomplished as a volunteer?


Additional Materials (Optional): Please feel free to submit any supporting materials that you think we should see (for example, newspaper clippings, photographs, etc.) If you would like to upload these please make sure the items are in the correct format. (.jpeg or .pdf files for all files submitted and no larger than 1Mb per upload.) or you can mail your materials to: Soroptimist International of Marin County at P.O. Box 150704, San Rafael, CA 94915-0704. Make sure that if mailing, your name and phone number are on all additional materials.
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Agreement I certify that all information provided in this application is complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge. I will notify the designated club to which I have submitted this application if there are any changes. I understand this award is taxable in the United States. Recipients in other countries should check their local tax laws. I certify that this is the only application I have made this year for a Soroptimist Violet Richardson Award from this or any other Soroptimist club. I understand that my application and supporting materials become the property of Soroptimist International of the Americas (SIA) upon submission, and that SIA shall have sole discretion in using these materials for the purpose of publicizing the Violet Richardson Award program. By typing your name below you adhere to the above requirements.
Applicant Signature *
Date *
Parent Signature *

If you would prefer to download the application, please click on the button below and follow the directions included in the application. You may email the application to Evelyn Deane at ermdeane@marinsoroptimist.org or mail to: Soroptimist International of Marin County at P.O. Box 150704, San Rafael, CA 94915-0704. For more information contact Evelyn Deane, Awards Chair at: 415-456-2853.