you were
a girl ...
did you imagine
a future
filled with hope
and promise?
But then
your life took
an unexpected turn,
and
you were forced to
W
hen
put your dreams on hold?
Are you ready
to begin
yournewlife?
TThhee SSoorrooppttiimmiisstt WWoommeennss OOppppoorrttuunniittyy AAwwaarrddss PPrrooggrraamm
The Soroptimist Womens Opportunity Awards give women the resources they need to improve their
education, skills, and employment prospects. Eligible applicants must be women who provide the pri-
mary financial support for their families, and who are enrolled in or have been accepted to a vocation-
al/skills training program or an undergraduate degree program.
Each year, Soroptimist clubs in 19 countries and territories assist women in overcoming personal difficul-
ties and bettering their lives through education and skills training. The women may use the cash award
to offset any costs associated with their efforts to attain higher education, including books, childcare
and transportation. The program begins on the local club level, where award amounts vary. Club recipi-
ents become eligible to receive region-level awards, which are granted through Soroptimist’s 28 geo-
graphic regions. Currently, each Soroptimist region grants one first-place award for $5,000. (Note: most
regions grant additional $3,000 awards.) The 28 first–place recipients then become eligible to receive
one of three $10,000 finalist awards.
Peggy M. transformed
her life from a single
mom earning minimum
wage at a fast food
restaurant to a college
graduate who makes
her living as a profes-
sional speaker and pub-
lished author.
Pachara Y., a domestic
abuse survivor, found
herself alone in a
foreign country with
three young children to
support. She is learning
to speak the language
of her adopted land
and plans to pursue
a career in nursing.
Guadalupe V. was
a young wife trapped
in a violent marriage,
in a country that was
not her own. A single
mom to two children,
Guadalupe eventually
graduated from
a Ph.D. program and
has helped other
women to leave
abusive situations.
Marina G. was a
struggling single mom
who ran in marathons
and used the cash
prizes to support her
family. She recently
obtained a degree in
physical education.
A single mother of
five, Kathy M. was
barely surviving on
public assistance.
Today Kathy is a
dental hygienist
and small business
owner.
IINNSSTTRRUUCCTTIIOONNSS
DDeeaaddlliinnee::
App
lications are due each year by December 15 to the address listed in Step 4. Award recipients will be notified
between January and June. Not all applicants to the program will be selected as recipients.
SSTTEEPP 11:: DDEETTEERRMMIINNEE IIFF YYOOUU AARREE EELLIIGGIIBBLLEE
Eligible applicants must be women who:
Provide the primary financial support for their families (including children, spouse, siblings
and/or parents).
Have financial need.
Are enrolled in or have been accepted to a vocational/skills training program or an undergraduate
degree program.
Reside in one of Soroptimist International of the Americas’ member countries/territories (Argentina,
Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guam, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru,
Philippines, Puerto Rico, Taiwan, United States of America, Venezuela, Colombia).
Have not previously been the recipient of a Soroptimist Women’s Opportunity Award; are not a
Soroptimist member, employee or immediate family of either.
SSTTEEPP 22:: CCOOMMPPLLEETTEE TTHHEE AAPPPPLLIICCAATTIIOONN
To
fill out the form:
Select the “Hand Tool,” which appears as a small white hand.
Move the “Hand Tooland click on the area where you want to type.
• A cursor will appear and you can begin typing to complete the application. (Note: You will not be able to
change the type size. Please limit your answers to the space allotted.)
• Once all parts of the form are completed, select “Save As” from the “File” menu and change the file name (for
example, “WOAemailappLG.pdf,” where “LG” are your initials.) Click “Save.
SSTTEEPP 33:: OOBBTTAAIINN RREEFFEERREENNCCEESS
You will need two different people to fill out the reference form (“ReferenceForm.pdf”), which you received along
with this application. Please email this form to your references and request that they email the forms back to you
when completed.
SSTTEEPP 44:: SSUUBBMMIITT YYOOUURR AAPPPPLLIICCAATTIIOONN
At
tach your completed application and reference forms to an email and send them to the contact person listed
below by DECEMBER 15.
Soroptimist Club Name Region
Club Contact Person Phone
Address
City/State/Postal Code
Email Address
IIMMPPOORRTTAANNTT!!
App
lications submitted directly to Soroptimist headquarters in Philadelphia will NOT
be considered. If you have any questions about eligibility or the application process,
please contact <siahq@soroptimist.org>.
Women’s Opportunity Awards
A program of Soroptimist International of the Americas
Soroptimist International of Pittsburg
Founder Region
Joan Silva
925-432-7570
P. O. Box 502
Pittsburg, CA 94565
joansilva52@comcast.net
Name (last, first, middle initial)
Address (number and street address)
City/Province
State Postal Code Country
Telephone (area code first) E-mail Address
Date of Birth Marital Status
Number of People Applicant Supports Financially
Relationship to Applicant (children, spouse, parent, etc.)
Ages (if children)
Women’s Opportunity Awards
A program of Soroptimist International of the Americas
PPAARRTT IIPPEERRSSOONNAALL DDAATTAA
PPAARRTT IIIICCAARREEEERR GGOOAALLSS
A. P
lease list the school you are currently attending, or to which you have been accepted, and your proposed program
of study (example: San Jose State University, four-year bachelor of science degree program in nursing).
B. When will you complete your program of study (month and year)?
C. Are you currently employed? (click) YES NO
If yes, how many hours per week do you work?
D. Please describe (in 300 words or less) your career goals and how your education and/or skills training support those goals
in the space provided below.
PPAARRTT IIIIIIPPEERRSSOONNAALL SSTTAATTEEMMEENNTT
Th
e Soroptimist Women's Opportunity Awards aid women who have faced economic and personal hardships, and are seeking
to gain additional skills, training and education. The program helps women who serve as the primary wage earners for their
families to enter or return to the work force, or to improve their employment status.
In the space provided below, please tell us in 750 words or less how these statements apply to you, and why you would make
a deserving Women's Opportunity Award recipient.
PPAARRTT IIVVFFIINNAANNCCIIAALL NNEEEEDD
Th
e Soroptimist Women's Opportunity Awards are given based in part on financial need. Your total income will be compared
to your total annual expenses. Please be as exact as you can.
A. Total annual household income from all sources (include your income from employment, savings, child support, alimony,
Social Security benefits, government assistance, and school loans or scholarships. Also include all income received by any other
household members).
B. Please list your annual educational expenses only—do not include those of your children or other family members.
Tuition/School Fees Books
Other (please describe)
C. Please list your family's annual living expenses in the chart below.
PPAARRTT VVRREEFFEERREENNCCEESS
Using
the attached reference forms, please submit two references (from persons not related to you) with your completed
application. Applications received without two references will not be considered.
PPAARRTT VVIIAAGGRREEEEMMEENNTT
• I
certify that all information provided in this application is complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge. I will notify
the designated club to which I have submitted this application if there are any changes.
• I understand that this award is not a scholarship and is therefore taxable for citizens of the United States. (For more infor-
mation, consult IRS publication 520. Recipients in other countries should check their local tax laws.)
• I certify that this is the only application I have made this year for a Women's Opportunity Award from this or any other
Soroptimist club.
• I understand that my application becomes the property of Soroptimist International of the Americas. The application will be
considered confidential, unless the applicant grants Soroptimist written permission to release personal information for the
purpose of publicizing the Soroptimist Women's Opportunity Awards program. By typing your name below you adhere to
the above requirements.
Signature of Applicant Date
Submitted to:
(Please provide the name of the sponsoring Soroptimist club listed on the application instructions page.)
Housing $ per year Utilities $ per year
Food $ per year Medical $ per year
Childcare $ per year Transportation $ per year
Other (please list additional expenses and assign a dollar value to each in the spaces below)
Expense: $ per year
Expense: $ per year
Expense: $ per year
Total expenses per year $