SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONALof SANTA CRUZ
COMMUNITY GRANT RECIPIENTS of 2006

Women Ventures Project - $5,000.00

Girls Night Out & Fashion Show - $3,200.00 - A joint venture mentoring program with the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Cruz

Download:

• 2007 Community Project Grant Guidelines
• 2007 Community Project Grant Application

Soroptimist Community Project Grant provides financial assistance to local community projects that advance the status of women and children. This year there were two recipients.

Women Venture Project allows low income women to be trained in non-traditional careers and employment opportunities. Led by program director Helen Ewan-Storey, this is a wonderful and unique program dedicated to the improvement of the lives of women in our community.

Our second recipient was an exciting first-time mentoring venture with the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Cruz. Soroptimist women were paired with girls chosen by the club in a multi-part project. The first part was a fun “Girls Night Out” at the club last November where they played games, ate pizza, ice cream and spent time together. Next, they chose a date to go shopping and bought two outfits for each of the participating young girls to model at the upcoming fashion show that was held at the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Cruz on February 10th. On the day of the fashion show, their hair styling and makeup was graciously donated by Shoreline School of Cosmetology. Door prizes for the audience were donated by Soroptimist Sue Huxtable. The girls were able to keep their outfits and each also received a $65.00 gift card at Staples for educational supplies. In addition, they each got flowers at the end of the fashion show and our models were each given a special award. It was an outstanding event. Spending time with the girls, seeing their faces and watching them shine, was priceless. The Boys and Girls Club of Santa Cruz is under the direction of Executive Director, Matt Koumaras.

Soroptimists and girls together before the fashion show

One of our models showing off her new outfit.

Flowers and awards presented after the fashion show

Applicants for the Community Project award must submit an application detailing their project’s needs, suggested activities, responsibilities of volunteers and professionals, and measurable outcomes. Applications are then reviewed by a committee made up of Soroptimist leadership, who evaluate each proposal and determine the finalist(s). The recipient(s) will be honored at the annual awards presentation in May.