The Women’s Opportunity Awards program 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.
Each year more than $1.5 million is awarded to more than 1,000 women, many of whom have overcome enormous obstacles including poverty, domestic violence and/or drug and alcohol abuse. Women’s Opportunity Award recipients may use the cash award to offset any costs associated with their efforts to attain higher education, such as books, child care, tuition and transportation.
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 Women’s Opportunity Awards program involves three levels of cash awards. The program begins at the local Soroptimist club level. The local level award recipient becomes eligible for a regional level award. Regional level award recipients then become eligible to receive one of three international level awards.
Since the Women’s Opportunity Awards program began in 1972, about $30 million has been disbursed to assist tens of thousands of women achieve their dreams of a better life for themselves and their families.
The Soroptimist Club of Osoyoos is accepting applications from women in the Thompson/Okanagan/Kootenays until Dec. 1, 2012. For further information and online application go to: www.soroptimist.org “Women’s Opportunity Award” or contact Kate Krist, WOA chairperson, at 250-498-3833, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. or speak to any Soroptimist member if you have questions.
This year, Soroptimist was honoured to award $10,000 to three outstanding, strong, hard-working women. One of those women is Dawn Johnson of B.C. Congratulations, Dawn.
Kate Krist, Women’s Opportunity Award chair
Soroptimist of Osoyoos