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| Project - | Support of DOVES - Domestic Violence Education Service |
| Soroptimist International of Big Bear Valley - Big Bear, CA |
In 1982, soon after chartering, S. I. Big Bear Valley researched the domestic violence problem in the Big Bear Valley and chose Domestic Violence as its first major service project. After appropriate training, the club started it’s own 24-hour hotline to help victims of domestic violence. The budget was $50. Because the program grew so large, the Soroptimist club offered the project to the community within three years. In 1985, a board of directors was recruited and a separate 501(c)(3) organization was formed. DOVES is the Domestic Violence service provider for San Bernardino Mountains of Southern California. It is now largely supported by state and federal grants, besides having its own fundraising program. DOVES as the first shelter-based agency to write and implement a six-month therapeutic and education program for shelter residents. Other shelters in San Bernardino County have now implemented this program model. In addition to its shelter, DOVES operates an Outreach Center in Big Bear Lake and Crestline. S. I. of Big Bear Valley continues to support DOVES through our annual donation, which was increased this year, and five club members serve on their board. This is a great opportunity to assist another organization helping women in the community.
| Project - | Providing Safe Housing for Women and Children Fleeing Domestic Violence |
| Soroptimist International of the Valley of the Sun, Sun City, AZ |
The club provides funding and other support for women and children living in Faith House, a transitional home for victims of domestic violence. S. I. Valley of the Sun donates funds and provides gift certificates for residents to shop at the Soroptimist Thrift Shop so that they can prepare themselves to re-enter society and seek employment.
| Project - | Funds to Agencies that Serve Women |
| Soroptimist International of Riverside, CA |
| The thrust of S. I. of Riverside’s fundraising is to provide monies to be donated to three agencies in Riverside that serve the needs of women and girls: Riverside Rape Crisis, Alternatives to Domestic Violence, and Safehouse Transitional Living Program. |
| Project - | Honor Killings" Rescue Shelter in Pakistan (P.W.A. Shelter) | |
| Soroptimist International of La Quinta/Coachella Valley, La Quinta, CA |
The club has adopted the Progressive
Women's Association rescue shelter for women who have become victims of
so called "Honor Killings" in Islamabad, Pakistan. The shelter provides
a haven for women and girls who are injured by burning, mutilation and
acid attacks by members of their families or tribe. The club has raised
and provided funds for the shelter. Shahnaz Bukhari, the director of
the Progressive Women's Association shelter is expected to be making a
speaking tour of California and Arizona next year. She will be
presenting her plea for funding to establish a more permanent home for
the shelter. It is also her intention to create a burn center for these
victims. Often she finds these women in hospitals too afraid to treat
them. They lie in squalid conditions, untreated and dying. Rejected by
their families for transgressions asserted by males members, often
mandated by fanatic clerics, they are punished or killed. If they
survive the attack, they have no where to go. Shahnaz offers a
"safe haven" for these victims often at risk of her own life.
Link to PWA web site:
www.pwaisbd.org
to read the full story.
Now, because of the recent earthquake in northern Pakistan, PWA is
offering assistance to the women and girls who have been left as
amputees. Often they are not welcomed back to their families for
they can no longer do the work they once did.
(Recently Shahnaz was featured on the NBC
News broadcast of the fate of a women who was gang raped at the behest
of tribal leaders as punishment for her brother who was accused of
having relations with a women. After petitioning the courts many
times, the perpetrators were finally jailed.)
| Project - | Support for Young Woman to Complete Nursing Training |
| Soroptimist International of Valley of the Sun, Sun City, AZ |
The club provided tuition funds for a young wife to complete her last year of nursing training. The family was experiencing severe financial problems that threatened her ability to remain in school. As a result, the young woman graduated from nursing school with an excellent grade point average and is now gainfully employed in her chosen profession.
| Project - |
City Hall Tour for Charlae’s House Girls |
| Soroptimist International of Valley of the Sun, Sun City, AZ |
The club hosted a tour of Peoria City Hall for Charlae’s House residents, a registered group home for girls who have been removed from their families. The purpose was to show the girls what goes on in their city and to expose them to successful women in a variety of occupations. There was a “photo op” with the Mayor and their City Council representative, a tour of city facilities with the Deputy City Manager (a Soroptimist) and Soroptimist members, a meeting with the Police Department Public Relations Director and several members of her team, a tour of the jail and the IT department, and an opportunity to learn about the professions of the tour participants.
| Project - | The House of Hope |
| Soroptimist International of Palm Desert, Palm Desert, CA |
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The House of Hope is owned by Soroptimist clubs in the Coachella Valley. They operate two sober living homes for women entering recovery for alcohol and/or drug abuse, and one halfway house for women graduating from the program. The homes typically have been furnished with hand-me-downs and little has been done to enhance the houses, other than basic necessary maintenance. In cooperation with residents of the House of Hope and corporate sponsors (Home Depot, Denise Roberge Art Galley, Vivant Interiors, Moorten's Gardens, the Cellar Door), the club redid the entire living room and landscaped the front and back yards of the house located in Desert Hot Springs. They painted, cleaned the carpet, brought in new furniture, replaced ceiling fans, added decorative bulletin boards, lamps and accent art to make the living room look and feel like a real living room. They also hung new window coverings and redecorated the Director’s office. The club would like to thank the corporate sponsors for joining them in this project. |
| Project: | Support for Women with Cancer |
| Soroptimist International of Mountain Morning, Flagstaff, AZ |
The club partnered with S. I. of the Arizona
Peaks to donate service project funds to an American Cancer Society
Support Group that helps women going through treatment. The funds are
used to provide, free of charge, wigs, prosthetic
bras, gas cards, knit
caps, and lodging for women from throughout northern Arizona who have to
travel to Flagstaff for
treatment.
| Project: | Mammography Funding |
| Soroptimist International of Parker - Parker, AZ |
La Paz County Health
Department [Arizona] offers free mammograms to women over 50; but if any
of their findings are
suspect or inconclusive, they do not have the
funding to go any further to diagnose. The club deposited $1,000 in
their
account for just this purpose. A separate accounting is kept for
these funds; so that, if more are needed, they will send
he club a
written request. Once a year they report progress to the club.
| Project: | Women’s Wellness Fair |
| Soroptimist International of the San Tans, Chandler, AZ |
The club partnered with
the local hospital to sponsor a Saturday morning Women’s Wellness Fair.
The Fair offered
free blood pressure and cholesterol screenings, asthma
checks, physician question and answer sessions,
chiropractic and
massage, mental health screenings, self-defense demonstrations, car-seat
safety checks, and
bone-density checks. It was attended by
approximately 150 women.