Equality. Empowerment. Education. Community

I joined Soroptimist International of Davis three years ago as a way to make lasting connections with other women in my community. My personal motivation was to find a way to get involved with and give back to my community, specifically impacting women and girls. Through our signature programs--Live Your Dream Award and Dream It Be It--SI Davis provides educational grants and career mentorship to help improve the lives and opportunities available to girls and women. The funds we raise through Big Day of Giving, as well as other fundraising opportunities, help support Soroptimist International and several programs in our local community. Even a donation of $10 today can help our club continue to make an impact! 

Live Your Dream Awards

The Live Your Dream Award, a signature Soroptimist program, is an annual cash grant that the club gives to a woman who serves as financial head of household while completing an undergraduate education or vocational /skills training program. The grant is a resource for motivated women to improve their education, skills and employment prospects, thus leading to better lives for themselves and their family.

Since 1972, this honor, originally called the Women’s Opportunity Award, has distributed more than $30 million to tens of thousands of women around the world. The Live Your Dream Award involves three levels of cash awards. The program begins at the local Soroptimist club-level, where SI Davis offers up to $5,000. Local recipients are eligible for additional cash awards at the regional and international level. The application process is entirely online as of 2018, with all materials due by Nov. 15. Recipients are announced in January or February. Awardees are invited to a luncheon in their honor. They are encouraged to bring a guest, and many awardees choose to bring their children.

The application consists of a written portion, financial summary and two letters of reference. The application is available in English, Spanish, Portuguese and Japanese.

Dream It, Be It Career Mentoring

Dream It, Be It is a Soroptimist International of the Americas program offering career support for girls 14-17. There has been a global need for mentorship and college and/or career readiness for young girls, and this program was designed to address this need.

SI Davis is grateful for our continued partnership with Martin Luther King Jr. High School, a local alternative high school, where we have distributed an adapted version of SIA’s program to the female students since the 2015-2016 school year.

Participating club members meet with students once a month at King High.