Soroptimist awards available

Submitted by Soroptimist

Soroptimist International of Friday Harbor is now accepting applications for three awards; Live Your Dream Award, the Fellowship Award and the Educational Opportunity Award.

Live Your Dream Award

The Live Your Dream Award is a major Soroptimist service project. This award helps women in overcoming personal difficulties and bettering their lives through education and training. The recipient may use the cash award to offset any costs of higher education, such as tuition, books, childcare, or transportation. This award is available to a woman who is the primary wage earner in her household and enrolled in an undergraduate degree or vocational skills program of study.

Soroptimist International of Friday Harbor has made a $4000 monetary award available for a woman in San Juan County. Recipients are eligible for additional cash awards at other levels of the organization, including three $10,000 finalist awards.

Many recipients have overcome enormous obstacles in their quest for a better life, including poverty, domestic violence, and drug and alcohol abuse. Each year more than two million dollars is given at various levels of the organization to help women achieve a better life for themselves and their families. Since the program began in 1972 about $30 million has been awarded to tens of thousands of deserving women through this program.

Applications for the 2020 Live Your Dream Award are now being accepted and must be received by Nov. 15.

Fellowship Award

The Fellowship Award is given to a woman in San Juan County who is returning to school for postgraduate study at an accredited college or university, leading to an advanced degree. This $3000 award is open to local women established in a profession who wish to undertake advanced study at an accredited college or university. Applications for the Fellowship Award must be postmarked by Feb. 7.

Educational Opportunity Award

The Educational Opportunity Award’is given to a woman who is a resident of San Juan County, enrolled in an undergraduate degree or vocational skills program of study. This $2000 award helps to offset the costs of higher education. This award differs from the ‘Live Your Dream’ award in that applicants do not need to be the primary wage earner in a household to be eligible. Applications for the Educational Opportunity Award must be postmarked by Feb. 7.

Soroptimist members, their immediate family members, and past Soroptimist award winners are not eligible for these awards.

For more details and information on how to apply, please visit the Soroptimist International of Friday Harbor website at www.sifri.org.