Live Your Dream Award winners Kimberly Carreno and Susanna Wright were each presented with $2,000 at the Soroptimist Annual Awards luncheon last week.
In the “Ruby” award category, Barbara Flynn received a $300 donation for a non-profit organization of her choice. She chose the Cobb Mountain Tree Project.
Live Your Dream is a program that supports the educational pursuits of women who are primary wage earners. Carreno, the top award winner, advances to the regional level and a chance to win up to $10,000. “Kimberly and Susanna were only 3 points apart. It was a very close call so we elected to divide the money equally,” said Brenda Crandall, the Live Your Dream Committee Chair and Club Vice President.
The “Ruby” Award is presented to women who make significant contributions to their community, professionally or as volunteers. Club President Olga Martin Steele said “our Board of Directors chose Barbara for her extraordinary efforts in support of the community during and after the Valley Fire.”
Jennifer Malinowski, last year’s top Live Your Dream winner, was on hand to support the award recipients.
Malinowski was raising two children, going to school and trying to find a means of support for her family when she applied for a Live Your Dream Award. Fresh out of culinary school she decided to open a boutique restaurant while continuing her education. Things were moving along when Malinowski hit a wall, the electrical system in the storefront she was renting had to be updated.
“The $2,000 award I received allowed me to open my restaurant, The Wholly Bowl, as planned and continue my schooling. I couldn’t have made it otherwise. Thanks to the Soroptimists, today, I’m living the dream,” Malinowski said.
For the 2015/16 award winners, the cash awards were equally important.
Carreno, who will go on to compete at the regional level, has four grandchildren. She is motivated by the will to make sure they have a better life. To help her daughter, Carreno takes care of her grandson while she works.
Before turning her life around, Carreno endured domestic violence, substance abuse and the loss of her son, Steven, who was born with severe health issues and diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and Epilepsy.
After years as sole advocate and caregiver, losing her only son proved to be an unbearable burden. Grief stricken and depressed, Carreno turned to drugs. She lost her health, livelihood and her home before finally hitting rock bottom.
Today Carreno is enrolled in college maintaining a 4.0 GPA. She is pursuing an AA degree in Human Services and Behavioral Science. Ultimately, she plans to achieve an MA in Social Work. “It’s a financial struggle, and this award will help more than I can explain,” Carreno said.
Carreno’s teachers report she is highly motivated, consistently scoring above other students on tests and assignments. “Having overcome so many obstacles, her courage is inspiring,” said Crandall.
Wright is a single mother of two, a new baby boy and a two-year old daughter. She found help from Soroptimist member, Cindy Lawler, who she met while in an abusive relationship and struggling to care for her daughter and schizophrenic twin brother. “Her drive to move forward convinced me that she would succeed in overcoming her challenges,” said Lawler.
Just three years ago, Wright was homeless, living on the streets of Richmond, dealing with substance abuse issues. Today, she is enrolled in college pursuing a BA degree in Social Work.
A busy mom and student, Wright also finds time to volunteer at a local mental health peer support center. “Raising a family while going to school is a financial challenge and this $2,000 award will help so much,” she said.
Having suffered the loss of two family members to gun violence, Wright is motivated to give her children a better life. “I will do everything in my power to provide the best possible future for my children and keep them from harm,” she said.
Flynn, the club’s choice for the Ruby award, is an untiring entrepreneur who has supported her community professionally and as a volunteer for many years. A native of Lake County, Flynn’s dedication to service is unwavering. She has served on boards and committees, promoting economic development and supporting programs that provide needed services to the less fortunate in our community, a point that resonated with the Soroptimist Board.
When the Valley Fire hit Cobb Mountain, Flynn gave freely of her time and resources, providing food and comfort to fire fighters, emergency personnel and residents of the devastated community. Then, when the disaster turned to restoration, she started the Cobb Mountain Tree Project, a non- profit organization with a goal of providing large trees to those who lost their homes.
The Valley Fire destroyed over 500 homes and thousands of beautiful trees in the Cobb Mountain community. “In the midst of all the ruins, the loss of our trees is almost too much for our people to bear,” Flynn said. “We needed something green and beautiful for our home-sites and fortunately, an Oregon nursery stepped up with a donation of hundreds of large evergreens.”
Accepting her award, Flynn said, “this fire has hit me hard and like my fellow honorees, I understand what it is to hit bottom.”
She is raising money to help defray the costs of hauling and storing the donated trees until replanting efforts commence. The cash award will go towards that effort.
Along with the cash awards, the recipients were presented with certificates of appreciation and flowers. Arlene Grimes, long time club member and organizer of the awards luncheon said “I’m very proud to be a Soroptimist and to recognize extraordinary women who are making a difference for themselves, their families and the community.”
Soroptimist International of Clear Lake is dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls in local communities and throughout the world. To attend a meeting, become a member, or for more information on any of our projects, please call Soroptimist President Olga Martin Steele at 707-998-1302.
