On April 16 Soroptimist International honored longtime members and announced this year’s scholarship award winners at a luncheon attended by 84 members and guests. Its members raise funds throughout the year to provide two awards each spring and to provide additional grants to local community organizations serving women and girls.
At the event nine long-time members who have devoted thousands of hours of personal and professional time were honored. Including Dixie Adeniran (36 years), Arlene Briggle (35 years), Liz Heaton Brown (31 years), Garnet Carroll (54 years), Lynn Jacobs (35 years), Sandra Masiel (84 years), Donna Nelson (31 years), Dorothy Prairie (33 years) and Delores Taylor (34 years).
The Violet Richardson Award honors young women for their volunteer efforts in their school or community. It is awarded annually to a teen, ages 14-17, and her volunteer organization to recognize the inspiration and dedication it takes to be a volunteer making a difference in the lives of others. This year’s scholarship was awarded to Fidelity Ballmer , senior at Foothill Technology High School. Fidelity started the Girl Up club at Foothill. Girl Up, a campaign of the United Nations, works to prioritize the health, safety, leadership and education of girls in developing countries. Fidelity’s mother, Shelly Ballmer, and Linda Kapala, Counselor at Foothill, accepted the $1500 award which is shared between Fidelity and the Girl Up club at Foothill.
The Woman’s Opportunity Award is dedicated to women who are heads of household and need to further their skills, education or training to upgrade their employment status. This year’s scholarship of $1,500 was awarded to Mary Kay Leon, a single mom of six children who is student and a business owner.
A special thanks was given to Ventura City Mayor Erik Nasarenko, Anna Gonzales, 2014 SIV Women’s Opportunity Award winner, event sponsors, the businesses and individuals that donated items to the silent auction and all of the individuals that helped make the 85th anniversary celebration/scholarship awards event a success! For more information about Soroptimist Ventura go to www.soroptimistventua.org.
