SITM supports women and children locally and throughout the world. Here’s a glimpse at some of the projects SITM is involved with:
LOCAL | FEDERATION | INTERNATIONAL
Local
Making a Difference for Women
Along with community partners, SITM hosts an annual daylong seminar to provide job skill coaching for unemployed and under-employed women. Seminar graduates become eligible for grants to help them in their careers.
Women’s Scholarships
Each year SITM awards approximately $35,000 to undergraduate women who are re-entering college and to women graduate students.
Thanks to Youth
This annual fundraising luncheon awards over $10,000 in youth scholarships to high school seniors. This luncheon also recognizes young “unsung heroes” in our community with shopping sprees. Applications are distributed to local elementary, middle, and high schools.
Happy Dollars
SITM members share events in their lives and give happy dollars at weekly meetings. Every month the happy dollars are donated to a designated local, national, or international cause. Some examples in 2015 include the Food Bank of Northern Nevada, Disability Resources, ALS Association, Nevada Chapter and Awaken, in support of the Human Trafficking program.
Federation
Live Your Dream
The Soroptimist Live Your Dream Awards (formerly the Women’s Opportunity Awards) assists women who provide the primary source of financial support for their families by giving them the resources they need to improve their education, skills and employment prospects. In addition to providing the primary financial support for their families, eligible applicants must be enrolled in, or have been accepted to, a vocational/skills training program or an undergraduate degree program and must demonstrate financial need.
The Live Your Dream program provides women with cash grants to offset costs associated with their efforts to attain higher education and additional skills training. The program helps women improve their economic status by preparing them to enter or re-enter the workplace. Competition begins at the club level with local awards set by participating clubs. Region Awards of $3,000 and $5,000 per honoree are funded by the Soroptimist International of the Americas Federation.
Visit Soroptimist.org for more info
International
Nepal Dormitory
In partnership with the people of Thulipokhari, Nepal, SITM helped build and now maintains a dormitory for girls who previously had to walk two to four hours one way to reach classes at the Janata Sudarsham Multiple Campus. Funds are raised through SITM’s semi-annual garage sales and through donations of members and others to provide room and board and school tuition for the girls.
See the Nepal Removing Barriers page
Nepal Micro Lending Program
SITM provides short-term, low-interest loans to villagers towards the purchase of water buffalo, goats, chickens and bee hives to improve their ability to farm their land, produce food for their families and provide income-generating opportunities.
See the Nepal Micro Lending page
Soroptimist International, Soroptimist International of the Americas, and Sierra Nevada Region
SITM participates in numerous national and international projects through SI, SIA, and SNR.