Soroptimist Women’s Opportunity Award “Helping Women Live Their Dreams”.

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 associate with their efforts to attain higher education, such as books, childcare, 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 beings at the local Soroptimist club level.  Local level award recipient becomes eligible for region level award.  Region 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/Kootenay’s until December 1, 2012.  You can go on line and watch short videos of past award recipients.   For further information and on-line 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 to 5 or speak to any Soroptimist member if you have questions.