Service is our reason for being. We are committed to a world where women and girls achieve their individual and collective potential, realize aspirations, and have an equal voice in creating strong, peaceful communities worldwide. Through our three-pronged approach of Awareness, Advocacy and Action we work for a better world for all by making it a better world for women
Throughout history—in every country in the world—women and girls have faced additional obstacles and discrimination solely because of their gender. By initiating club projects that benefit women and girls and by honoring women who help women and girls, we improve their status. Soroptimist projects and programs aid and empower them to make positive changes in their lives and their communities.
We approach our service with four goals:
- Ensuring women and girls enjoy equity and equality.
- Ensuring women and girls live in safe and healthy environments.
- Ensuring women and girls have access to education.
- Ensuring women and girls have leadership and practical skills
SI Vallejo is a part of Soroptimist International of the Americas (SIA) and as such, we participate in their Live Your Dreams (LYD) programs, including the Live Your Dreams Awards and the Dream It, Be It program. Regionally, we belong to the Founder’s Region and participate in the Founder Region Fellowship program. Finally, we also provide scholarships to college-bound high school graduates and grants to local community organizations whose mission aligns with ours.
Soroptimists and their immediate families—whether they are members of our club or another club—are not eligible to receive any form of financial aid.
Making the Dream of Education a Reality: Scholarships
Each year we award scholarships to women and girls who are residents of Vallejo and are
- Graduating from high school and who plan to attend a 4-year university, a community college, or who plan to enroll in a trade school or professional training program
- Already attending a community college
- Additionally, in honor of one of our past Soroptimist members, we award the Greta & Al Lange Memorial Scholarship to women residing in Solano County who are enrolled in a postgraduate program to obtain a degree in the medical field, including Pharmacy, Nursing, and other Medical degrees.
Scholarships are awarded based on financial need, scholastic achievement, motivation of the student, quality of recommendations, and to a lesser extent, extracurricular activities. All successful applicants meet with a selection board for a personal interview.
Scholarship funds are sent directly to the educational institution upon receipt of proof of registration for classes by the awardee. Scholarship funds are intended to be used for the year for which they have been awarded and can only be held over for a subsequent year with special permission.
Scholarships 2024
Awarded and Celebrated May 13, 2024
Scholarship applications are only available online. Please follow the applicable link listed below:
Scholarships for Women and Girls Application
Greta and Al Lange Memorial Scholarship
Post-Graduate studies in the Medical Field
Awarded May 2020; celebrated June 29, 2020
(Not available 2023 and 2024)
Live Your Dream Education and Training Awards
The signature program of Soroptimist International of the Americas, the Live Your Dream Education and Training Award, recognizes women heads of household responsible for the financial support of their families who are improving their employment status through further education or training.
To be eligible for this prize a woman must provide the primary financial support of her family, she must have dependents who rely on her for that support, and she must be enrolled in or planning to enroll in a college or training program.
Applicants may access the Live Your Dreams application and reference forms here or by contacting our SIA Programs committee at information@sivallejo.org. Information packets are also available at most local college and university financial aid offices.
Awarded and Celebrated March 23, 2024
Dream It, Be It: Career Support for Girls
Dream It, Be It: Career Support for Girls is another Live Your Dream program from Soroptimist International of the Americas. It gives girls the tools they need to achieve their education and career goals, empowering them to break cycles of poverty, violence, and abuse.
Although all girls face barriers because of their gender, we prioritize working with girls who have additional obstacles including poverty, unstable home lives, living in foster care, or teen motherhood. Soroptimist clubs work in partnership with girls in small groups or a conference setting to provide them with the information and resources they want and need to be successful.
By reaching girls while they are still young, we not only can help them stay healthy and safe in the short term, but we can reduce the number of women in crisis in the future. Putting them on a path will help them realize their dreams.
Topics We Cover
- Career opportunities
- Setting and achieving goals
- Overcoming obstacles to success
- Moving forward after setbacks or failures
April 3, 2024
April 3, 2024 Three DIBI attendees who have SIOV Moms!
Ruby Award: Women Helping Women
The Ruby Award is an award that may be given by clubs in Soroptimist International of the Americas to recognize women or organizations who are helping other women and girls in the local communities. It is named in honor of the first Federation President, Ruby Minar.
Anyone – either a member of Soroptimist or outside of the club—may nominate a woman for this award. A woman may even nominate herself for the award. The winner chosen at the club level is given a monetary award for her organization.
If you know a woman who you believe qualifies for this award or if you are such a woman, you may complete a nomination form and submit it for consideration. Further information is available from our SIA Programs committee. information@sivallejo.org
Violet Richardson Award
Violet Richardson, the first president of the first Soroptimist club in Alameda County in 1921, believed “it’s what we do that counts” and lived her life accordingly. Given in her memory, this award recognizes and honors young women between the ages of 14 – 18 in recognition of their outstanding volunteer efforts in our community.
Higher Dreams Through Fellowship
Making a true difference by expanding the body of knowledge is the dream of doctoral students. We are here to support these women who are actively pursuing their doctoral degrees. Through Founder Region Fellowship we, along with other clubs in our region, provide funding for women in the final stages of their doctoral programs. We raise money for this program through special fundraisers and direct donations by members. For every $1000 raised for Fellowship, a member can be named a Fellow of Founder Region Fellowship. We are enthusiastic supporters of this program and annually raise money for Fellowship. For the past several years we have been able to name multiple club members as new Fellows.
Awarded and Celebrated April 13, 2024
Giving From the Heart
Additionally, we make monetary donations to assist local projects such as TechTrek’s STEM experience, leadership training for girls, local resource centers, and programs fighting abuse and gun violence.
If you would like to apply for a grant, please contact us using the “Contact Us” tab on this website or by email to siovjo@hotmail.com. Outline your programs, describing in detail your needs, including the specific amount of money requested, and explain how your program will improve—and not simply enhance—the lives of women and girls. You may find it helpful to refer back to the four focus goals outlined at the beginning of this Service tab.
Each request is carefully considered, so responses may take a minimum of one month and sometimes longer. Generally, our grants are disbursed from October through May.
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