Scholarships & Awards

Positive Parenting Award:

Honors individuals who are working toward economic independence, improving parenting skills, building self-esteem, and eliminating negative coping skills. Includes a cash grant of $1000 for 3-4 individuals.

  • Deadline:  March 15, 2011
  • Award Presentation: May 11, 2010
  • Contact: Daria Booth

Imagining Possibilities Award:

For young women leaving the foster care system that have been recognized as outstanding and achievement oriented individuals – one to three recipients are chosen with a total of $3,000 awarded.

Interesting Factoid: Dottie Locke was an RN who drove ambulance in World War !! and returned to Chico after the war. Dottie lived with the owner of KHSL and started 2 programs for SI/Chico. 1. “Teen Talk” a short weekly program on KHSL giving high school students the opportunity to talk on KHSL briefly about the world as they saw it. 2. Dottie organized a county wide conference of outstanding high school senior graduates to meet and discuss a topic of current national interest that would involve their future lives. Students met for lunch on Saturdays and came from Oroville, Paradise and Chico and elsewhere in the county.

Hand Up Award:

Recognizes women over forty years of age who have completed, or are in the process of completing a training program, and who are re-entering the workplace – one recipient is chosen and awarded $1,000.

  • Application Deadline: February 28, 2011
  • Presentation: March 30, 2011
  • Contact: Michele Carter

Women’s Opportunity Award:

For women who are primary breadwinners of their family and are seeking to improve their employment status by gaining additional education and skills – one to three recipients are chosen with a total of $3,00 awarded.

  • Application Deadline: December 15, 2010
  • Presentation: March 30, 2011
  • Contact: Joan Stoner

Since 1972, Soroptimist has been helping women the world over reclaim their dreams through the Women’s Opportunity Awards program.  This program provides cash grants to women who are working to better their lives through additional skill training and education.  You are eligible to apply if you are:

  • A woman with primary financial responsibility for yourself and your dependents
  • Attending an undergraduate degree program or vocational skills training program
  • Have financial need

Violet Richardson Award:

For young women 14-17 years of age who significantly contribute to their communities through volunteer efforts – one to three recipients are chosen with a total of $600 awarded and split between recipient and charity of their choice.

  • Deadline: December 15, 2010
  • Regional Deadline: February 1, 2011
  • Presentation: April 27, 2011
  • Contact: Vicki Perryman

Download the Violet Richardson Award PDF and read more here.

The Violet Richardson Award recognizes 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 especially valued.

Soroptimist is an organization of women whose members volunteer in their communities, often working on the same problems that you do.  Although we realize that volunteering is its own reward, we also know it feels good to be recognized for your actions.  And that’s why we sponsor this award.

The Ruby Award – For Women Helping Women

For women who have significantly enhanced the lives of other women through professional, business and volunteer activities – one to three recipients are chosen with a total of $3,000 awarded.

  • Application Deadline:  December 15, 2010
  • Regional Deadline:  February 1, 2011
  • Award Presentation:  April 27, 2011
  • Contacts:  Sharadin Castaldo, Marianne Kernen

The Soroptimist Ruby Award:  For Women Helping Women recognizes and honors the first federation president, Ruby Lee Minar.  A ruby is also a deep red gemstone associated with wisdom, importance, vitality, strength, vivacity, power and love: all words embodying the strong and compassionate women who are our award recipients.  The Soroptimist Ruby Award honors women who have worked to improve the lives of women and girls through their professional and/or volunteer work.