Soroptimist International Of The Americas Inc

SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL OF ANACORTES SIA IS AN ORGANIZATION OF WOMEN WORKING TO ADVANCE HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE STATUS OF WOMEN BY FUNDING COMMUNITY PROJECTS AND AWARDING SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS FUNDED BY PROCEEDS FROM OUR THRIFT STORE.

SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS ARE MADE THROUGH A COMPETITIVE PROCESS TO DESERVING APPLICANTS TO ASSIST IN THEIR EDUCATION WE AWARDED 8 SCHOLARSHIPS DURING THE YEAR THROUGH COLLABORATION WITH SKAGIT VALLEY COLLEGE. WE ALSO AWARDED 4 AWARDS TO DESERVING WOMEN. THE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM IS ADMINISTERED BY THE SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE MADE UP OF CLUB MEMBERS. ALL SCHOLARSHIP APPLICANTS ARE JUDGED BY A PANEL OF COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS SELECTED ANNUALLY BY THE COMMITTEE. THIS YEAR THE JUDGES WERE PROVIDED BY SKAGIT VALLEY COLLEGE. SCHOLARSHIPS WERE AWARDED BASED ON THEIR RECOMMENDATION. AWARDS ARE MADE BY THE AWARDS COMMITTEE WHICH IS ALSO MADE UP OF CLUB MEMBERS. APPLICATIONS ARE SOLICITED FROM THE PUBLIC. THE APPLICANTS ARE INTERVIEWED AND AWARDS MADE TO THE TOP APPLICANTS. CONSIDERATION IS GIVEN TO FINANCIAL NEED EDUCATIONAL GOALS AND THE IMPACT ON THE AWARDS ON THE WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN. WE PARTNER WITH OTHER SOROPTIMIST CLUBS IN THE COUNTY TO WIDEN THE POOL OF APPLICANTS FOR THESE AWARDS.

OUR ORGANIZATION'S MOST ACTIVE PROGRAM IS OUR COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAM. DONATIONS BY THE CLUB ARE MADE TO OTHER 501C3 ORGANIZATIONS SCHOOLS HOSPITALS ET AL PRIMARILY IN ANACORTES AND SKAGIT COUNTY. THESE DONATIONS ARE MADE TO FUND PROGRAMS THAT PRIMARILY BENEFIT WOMEN AND CHILDREN. WE ALSO SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS OUTSIDE OF OUR LOCAL AREA AS WE DEEM APPROPRIATE GIVING OUR CLUB AN INTERNATIONAL REACH.WE DONATED TO 11 LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS THIS YEAR THROUGH OUR BUDGETED COMMUNITY SERVICE. WE ALSO HAVE 8 COMMITTEES OF SERVICE THAT DONATE FUNDS TO THE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT COINCIDE WITH THEIR SPECIFIC PURPOSE. THESE ARE HEALTH EDUCATION DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ECONOMIC & SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ENVIRONMENT GIRL POWER HUMAN RIGHTS & STATUS OF WOMEN AND UN IGU. OUR STRATEGIC PLANNING COMMITTEE IDENTIFIES LARGER PROJECTS AND REVIEWS GRANT REQUESTS OVER $5,000 THAT WILL HAVE A GREATER IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY. WE GRANTED $10,000 TO ANACORTES FAMILY CENTER FOR THEIR MENTAL HEALTH FUND THROUGH THIS COMMITTEE. WE ALSO LOAN HOME HEALTH EQUIPMENT TO LOCAL RESIDENTS FREE OF CHARGE. THIS INCLUDES WHEEL CHAIRS CANES CRUTCHES WALKERS TOILETTE SEAT RISERS BATH SEATS AND OTHER NEEDED EQUIPMENT.

WE SPONSOR A NUMBER OF FREE PROGRAMS THROUGH DIRECT GIVING FROM OUR THRIFT STORE. WE SPONSOR A "DRESS YOU FOR SUCESS" PROGRAM. WE OUTFIT CLIENTS WHO ARE LOW INCOME OR UNEMPLOYED WITH BUSINESS ATTIRE SO THAT THEY CAN GO ON JOB INTERVIEWS OR GO TO WORK WHEN NEWLY HIRED. WE HAVE A VOUCHER SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO REFER INDIVIDUALS WHO NEED BASIC ITEMS SUCH AS CLOTHING OR HOUSEWARES. INDIVIDUALS ARE ABLE TO SHOP IN OUR THRIFT STORE FOR THESE ITEMS BASED ON THE VOUCHER SUPPLIED BY THE SALVATION ARMY ST. VINCENT DE PAUL ANACORTES FAMILY CENTER RED CROSS AND LOCAL SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES. ITEMS SELECTED ARE FREE OF CHARGE TO THE INDIVIDUALS AND THE REFERRING ORGANIZATIONS. WE ALSO PROVIDE SOME SCHOOL SUPPLIES TO LOCAL SCHOOLS AND GOODS TO THE LOCAL FAMILY SHELTER.