A local nonprofit organization that aims to better the lives of women and girls is taking the time to honor their peers with generous awards.
Soroptimist International of Santa Clarita Valley is looking to recognize females between the ages of 14 and 17 who make an impact in their community by volunteering. Past recipients of the Violet Richardson Award have included young women who have helped the disadvantaged, cleaned up the environment, worked to stop discrimination and also fought drugs, crime and violence.
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The club hands out awards for first place ($1,000), second place ($750) and third place ($500).
“We do this program every year. It’s just really thrilling. The young women we get are those that volunteer in the community,” said Karen Ilich, a club member for 28 years. “It can be with a school, churches, hospitals – various ways. Applications we’ve gotten in the past have been really, really great.”
The application deadline is January 15. After the three recipients are selected, the club will hold an awards dinner in March.
“We get them from the various high schools and sometimes home-schooled girls that have heard about this,” she said. “It’s really rewarding, especially when we get to hear the girls speak about what they do in the community at the awards dinner. This is what we’re aiming at – to honor them.”
Click here to download the application. Visit siscv.com for more information.