Outstanding Service to Youth

You have probably heard that if you throw a pebble into the water on one side of the ocean, it can create a tidal wave on the other side. 

Soroptimists International of Rancho Cordova and Gold River is that pebble in the pond, quietly creating a ripple in our city for a decade by improving the lives of girls and women.  

Soroptimist International is a global service organization of professional women. Chartered in 2009, the local chapter has spent the last decade finding gaps that hold girls back -- and filling them.

A relatively small group, the Soroptimists back a big wallop. Carefully chronicling their work in order to gauge their impact, Soroptimists report they have changed and improved the lives of more than 4,000 women and girls over the last 10 years – sometimes in unexpected ways.

For example:

More than 240 homeless teen girls in the community are doing better in PE classes and school in general thanks to the support of Soroptimists. And in this case, support is quite literal. Soroptimists have erased embarrassment and shame during gym class by furnishing new bras and underwear to hundreds.

More than 1200 domestic violence survivors feel more normal and loved because they received a Soroptimist Comfort Kit. It’s a heavy duty canvas tote bag filled with a 30 day supply of toiletries and personal care items given to survivors of domestic violence who have the courage to seek assistance from Women Escaping A Violent Environment (WEAVE). There’s a children’s version too!

Approximately 150 girls per year stayed in school rather than be sent home with menstrual camps because 15-30 minutes of using a heating pad provided to school nurses did the trick.

Two hundred extremely poor kindergarten and first grade students enjoyed personal time and portraits with Santa, a Christmas party and book as a gift, thanks to Soroptimists.

More than 750 girls won’t be a target of human traffickers due to the hundreds of “Dress a Girl Around the World” dresses the local chapter helped make.

Homeless Cordova High School girls have been helped feel like princesses, thanks to the fairy godmothers at Soroptimists who prepared them for their Senior Ball with a new dress and shoes, manicure and pedicure, hairstyle and makeup.

Soroptimists have helped match up local companies with needy families. Once the connection is made, lives of the family members are changed. But so are the lives of the givers.

Soroptimists are also helping women in crisis. But this particular award singles out the special loving care these women have bestowed upon girls, helping them grow while traveling a bumpy road.

Soroptimists – you are the Yodas of Rancho Cordova! 

Small and wise, you never forget the sometimes tiny needs of girls, which, if met, can cause big changes as they travel through life. While it may seem small, as we said at the beginning, ripple effects of small actions can be extraordinary.  

Thank you to Soroptimists of Rancho Cordova and Gold River, for Distinguished Service to Youth.