LAKE COUNTY ?Soroptimist International of Clear Lake is seeking applicants for its Ruby Award, which is an acknowledgment for “Women Helping Women.” The recipient will be a woman who through her personal or professional activities works to improve the lives of women and girls.
“The work of these women helps to promote the issues that are important to the Soroptimist organization,” Soroptimist International of Clear Lake Second Vice President and award chairperson Kimberly Kent said. “Honorees are ordinarily women who have worked in extraordinary ways to benefit women and girls. This awards program enables local Soroptimist clubs and the Soroptimist organization to thank these women and encourage others to explore ways to assist women and girls.”
Ruby Award applicants can demonstrate their efforts to improve the lives of women and girls through three distinct platforms including economic empowerment, elimination of violence and gender equality. The award is part of Soroptimist”s Women”s Opportunity Awards, which disburses more than $1 million each year to head-of-household women who wish to make a better life for themselves and their families by improving their education, skills and employment prospects.
Past Ruby Award, formerly the Soroptimist Making a Difference for Women Award, recipients have been instrumental in endeavors such as spearheading efforts to open a domestic violence shelter, starting a mentoring program for at-risk girls and lobbying companies to provided onsite childcare.
The awards program begins at the club level. Award winners at the club level are eligible for additional awards at other levels of the organization. The finalist receives a $5,000 donation to the charity of her choice. “Women who are improving the lives of other women and girls through their professional or personal activities are eligible for the Soroptimist Ruby Award,” Kent said. “These women have identified and focused on a need in their communities, which has significantly contributed to the improvement of women and girls” lives.”
Although Soroptimist clubs are free to honor a woman for a lifetime of good work, the majority of the work should have occurred within the past two years. Previous award winners, Soroptimists and Soroptimist employees are not eligible for the award.
Janney Montgomery Scott, LLC, professional financial advisors, has recently become a sponsor of the Soroptimist Ruby Award. “This sponsorship demonstrates Janney”s investment in women who have worked in extraordinary ways to help other women and girls live their dreams,” Kent said. “In addition to women and girls being served directly, Janney”s generous sponsorship of the Ruby Award ultimately helps families, communities and the world.”
Past recipients of the Making a Difference for Women Award include domestic violence expert and advocate Elaine Weiss; former US Congresswomen Patsy Mink and Patricia Schroeder; novelist and former district attorney Linda Fairstein; Princess Diana, former child actor and US Ambassador Shirley Temple Black; former Philippines President Carazon Aquino; and marine biologist Dr. Sylvia Earle.
For more information or to obtain an application for the Soroptimist Ruby Award contact award chairperson Kimberly Kent at 995-1900. Application deadline is Dec. 1.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
