Your gift today will improve access to education for women and girls, empowering them to define their futures.

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Support Healthy Communities

When you invest in education for women and girls, you're helping them raise healthier families, get higher-paying jobs, and strengthen their communities.

Provide Mentorship

Your donation will provide mentorship to over 20,000 teen girls a year, helping build their confidence to pursue their career goals.

Invest in their Education Dreams

You help us award $2.6 million annually to thousands of women around the world to help them attain their degrees.

Break the Cycle of Poverty & Violence

Your gift supports women and girls who face homelessness, domestic violence, substance abuse, trafficking, or teen pregnancy—and helps them break the cycle to achieve a better life.

Donate today to empower women and girls!

Dawn Johnson's Story

Since 1972, we've distributed more than $30 million in education grants to 30,000 women making a better life for themselves and their families.

Our Impact

of Live Your Dream Award recipients completed their education and improved their standard of living

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When she was a little girl, Dawn dreamed of practicing law and changing the world. Unfortunately, the odds were against her.

Dawn turned to alcohol at the young age of 8 to number herself from the years of physical and sexual abuse she endured from her parents. At 11, she was placed into child welfare. By 12, she was living on the streets and addicted to crack. At 15, she was in an abusive relationship and pregnant.

Those obstacles and traumas could easily have defeated anyone... but not Dawn.

One day, Dawn woke up on the kitchen floor after a particularly violent beating from her abusive partner. She knew she had to break the cycle and take back her life, not just for herself but for her infant daughter.

She knew that education was the path she needed to take. Education would lead to financial independence and to her youthful dreams coming true.

After leaving her old life behind, Dawn was accepted at the University of Victoria to complete her Bachelor of Arts in child and youth care.

A single parent working full time to fund her full-time education and taking on debt, Dawn was in a state of financial crisis, and her plans were in real danger of being derailed.

Then, with the generous help of donors, we were able to support Dawn's education through the Live Your Dream Awards. No longer would she have to choose between affording groceries or tuition. The award meant she could get out of survival mode and continue school while still caring for her daughters.

Today, Dawn and her daughters no longer live in poverty, and their future is bright!

of recipients who completed their degree or certification secured higher-paying employment

of recipients report the award has increased their self-esteem

Make a donation to help women and girls realize their dreams of becoming leaders, creators, helpers, problem-solvers, and change-makers!

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For nearly 100 years, Soroptimist has been improving the lives of women & girls in local communities and throughout the world.

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How You Can Empower Women & Girls

Your gift today will improve access to education for women and girls, empowering them to define their futures.

Rochelle's Story

As a little girl growing up in the Philippines, Rochelle dreamed of becoming a teacher. Unfortunately, the odds were against her.

Because her mother worked abroad, Rochelle was responsible for household chores and taking care of her three younger siblings, one of whom has special needs.

Rochelle's difficult upbringing turned ever darker, when she was raped by her father and became pregnant with his child at the age of 14.

Rochelle lived in fear and shame as he continued to rape her over and over again. Eventually, she found the courage to tell someone and file a rape case. Her father was found guilty and sentenced to a three-term life imprisonment.

Determined not to let her past extinguish her dreams, Rochelle returned to school. 

"With hard work, patience, self-confidence, determination, and people who trust me—my dream to get a college education and become a teacher is within arm's reach."

Thanks to generous donors, we were able to support Rochelle's education through the Live Your Dream Awards. The award lifted her out of poverty so she could continue school while still providing for her family.

"I will be more than a teacher and a second mother to my students. I will help them find value in life no matter how difficult it can be … and help others the way kind-hearted people are helping me now."