Soroptimist Women's Opportunity Award -- cash grant for women continuing their education

[Sandra Abbott Fitzpatrick]

Do you know a woman who is struggling to continue her education, get a good job and make things better for her family? Yes? Then you need to tell her about the Women's Opportunity Award!! It is a special educational grant given by our volunteer service organization, Soroptimist International of Greater New Haven. The grant is described below and the application materials are attached. If you could make this information available to any women who you feel may be good candidates, I would sincerely appreciate it.

The Soroptimist Women's Opportunity Awards give women the resources they need to improve their education, skills and employment prospects. Eligible applicants must be women who provide the primary financial support for their families, and who are enrolled in or have been accepted to a vocational/skills training program or an undergraduate degree program.

Each year, Soroptimist clubs in 19 countries and territories (including the New Haven club as well as several other clubs in CT) assist women in overcoming personal difficulties and bettering their lives through education and skills training. The women may use the cash award of $500 to offset any costs associated with their efforts to attain higher education, including books, childcare and transportation. The program begins on the local club level. The Greater New Haven club winner will be announced in late February 2012 and will become eligible to compete for a region-level award of $5,000. The region winner is then entered into a contest on an international level for one of three $10,000 finalist awards.

To apply, candidates must complete the attached full application, as well as submit 2 personal references (form also attached). The deadline for submitting applications is January 15, 2012. Because the full application is somewhat lengthy, we encourage women who are interested in the award to first complete and submit the attached preliminary application. After receiving the preliminary application, we can verify a candidate's eligibility and assist her in the application process if needed.

Soroptimist is an international volunteer organization for business and professional women who work to improve the lives of women and girls, in local communities and throughout the world. The Women's Opportunity Awards program is the organization's major service project. At various levels of the organization, about $1 million is disbursed annually through the Women's Opportunity Award program. Since the program began in 1972, about $15 million has been granted to more than 22,500 women. Soroptimist International of the Americas is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, as is our local club, Soroptimist International of Greater New Haven. More information can be found at www.soroptimist.org and www.soroptimistnewhaven.com.

Please also feel free to contact me at [e-mail] with any questions.

Thank you!
Sandra A. Fitzpatrick
Chair, 2012 Women's Opportunity Award Committee

WOAPrelimApp2012.pdf

WOAFullApp2012.pdf

WOAReference2012.pdf