Rise and Shine

Yesterday I had the opportunity to attend the YWCA’s Rise and Shine Breakfast. Never having attended one, I didn’t know what to expect, but I definitely didn’t expect the magnitude of the event. There were hundreds of women and men in attendance, and all of us were treated to an inspirational program on what the YWCA does for our community.

The YWCA’s mission statement reads, “The YWCA is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all.” I did know that the YWCA was over 100 years old, but I didn’t know that it was international, with a presence in 106 countries. The World YWCA was founded in 1894!

In Salt Lake City, the YWCA offers a domestic violence shelter, a children’s advocacy program, a residential self-sufficiency program, wellness education services, services to immigrants and refugees, and many other services directly benefitting women and their children. With apologies to the Village People, it’s probably not “fun” to stay at the YWCA, but for most of the women who stay in the domestic violence shelter or participate in the residential self-sufficiency program, it is life-changing.

Before the presentation, Executive Director Anne approached me and congratulated me on all the wonderful work that Soroptimist is doing here in Salt Lake. “We are sister organizations.” she told me. I agree – we are one in improving the lives of women and girls in our community and throughout the world. My congratulations to the YWCA for a wonderful event.

Making an Impact

Our Live Your Dream Fashion Show and Silent Auction was a huge success. We had over 100 in attendance, and after expenses our net profit was $8,122! Wow!

One of the most rewarding things about raising money for Soroptimist is the impact the funds we raise have on women and girls in our communities and throughout the world. The following is a exerpt of the message I gave at our fashion show – why we were there:

• Little children dream of sugarplums – especially on Christmas Eve. The single mothers of these little children dream of being able to provide Christmas to their children and still pay their utility bills. Through our Single Moms’ Breakfast with Santa, Salt Lake Soroptimists provide warm clothing and toys to over 100 single moms and over 200 children each year.
• Victims of domestic violence dream of a world where they, and their children, will be safe. Through our Crop ‘til it Stops scrapbooking fundraiser, Salt Lake Soroptimists raised $1700.00 for the Utah Domestic Violence LinkLine – the first contact for domestic violence victims.
• Single women heads-of-household dream of the financial security that an education provides. Through our Women’s Opportunity Award, three women annually are granted cash awards to help them pursue the education that will enable them to support their children.
• Teenage girls – pregnant or with small babies – dream of being able to finish high school, and yes, even to go on to college. Through our Possibilities project with the Horizonte Young Parents Program, Salt Lake Soroptimists provide life skills to these girls and upon graduation will pay for their college books.
• School-age girls in Kenya dream of being able to go to school. Period. Through a recent partnership with Kenya Keys, Salt Lake Soroptimists contributed to the building of a dormitory that will allow 80 girls to go to school.
• Women in war-torn Sierra Leone dream of rebuilding their lives, rebuilding their homes, and providing for their children. Through Soroptimist International’s Project Sierra, Soroptimists all over the world hope to raise 2 million dollars to provide health care, education, small business training, and life skills to these women and children.
• Orphans in Vietnam dream of a caring home where they will be loved and nurtured. Through the Rocky Mountain Region’s support of Children of Peace International, Soroptimists in six western states have built orphanages and schools and continue to provide for women and children in Vietnam.

And WE dream. We dream of making a difference for women and girls. Let’s keep dreaming!

It Was Supposed to be Easy

Or so we thought when we decided to embrace Governor Jan’s challenge to celebrate International Women’s Day. It was early November, and March 8 was a long way away. We jumped on board at the suggestion to hold a luncheon. We arranged for someone to recruit a speaker. Done. We arranged for someone to book a venue. Done. We were on our way.

Then it was February. Our original speaker canceled, and in the midst of planning two fundraisers, one of them our biggest of the year, we found ourselves scrambling to find another speaker. Somewhere in this time frame we realized (OK, I realized) that it was not just any International Women’s Day. This was the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day. Last year’s proclamation from the Mayor of Salt Lake County would not do; we needed a new one.

And to top it all off, we found ourselves in the less-than desirable position of advertising for two events in the same week, taking reservations for two events in the same week, designing and printing programs for two events in the same week. Whew!

So in the end, it wasn’t easy. Most worthwhile endeavors are not. I think of the struggles of the women whom we remember on International Women’s Day. Women who fought to obtain the right to vote, the right to work, the right to hold office. Women who fought against child labor and sweatshops. It wasn’t easy for them, and we are the beneficiaries of their work.

Our luncheon was fabulous. Keynote speaker Karen Shepherd reminded us that, as far as women have come in this past 100 years, we have so much further to go. I hope that our celebration did justice to the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day.