Welcome to Soroptimist International of Bend, Oregon

Soroptimist International of Bend Offering Educational Awards

Applications taken until November 15, 2022.

September 28, 2022: Applications are now available online for the Soroptimist Live Your Dream Award®. LYDA are cash awards given to motivated women who are the primary financial supporters of their families. Recipients of the awards seek to improve their lives by gaining additional skills, training or education, but do not have the resources to do so.

Soroptimist International of Bend offers a $2000 award. In addition, another award in the same amount, is underwritten by Central Electric Cooperative, Inc to any of their members who are in good standing and meet all of LYDA’s requirements.

Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited program and have dependent children and/or adults to be eligible. The cash awards are meant to offset any costs associated with the recipient’s efforts to attain higher education, including tuition, books, supplies, child care or transportation costs. Applications are available now until November 15, 2022 at www.sibend.org. Please read instructions carefully. Questions? Contact Jan Swander at j.m.swander@gmail.com.

Soroptimist International of Bend Offering Educational Awards

Applications taken until November 15, 2021.

September 20, 2021: Applications are now available online for the Soroptimist Live Your Dream Award®. LYDA are cash awards given to motivated women who are the primary financial supporters of their families. Recipients of the awards seek to improve their lives by gaining additional skills, training or education, but do not have the resources to do so.

Soroptimist International of Bend offers a $2000 award. In addition, another award in the same amount, is underwritten by Central Electric Cooperative, Inc to any of their members who are in good standing and meet all of LYDA’s requirements.

Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited program and have dependent children to be eligible. The cash awards are meant to offset any costs associated with the recipient’s efforts to attain higher education, including tuition, books, supplies, child care or transportation costs. Applications are available now until November 15, 2021 at www.sibend.org. Please read instructions carefully. Questions? Contact Jan Swander at j.m.swander@gmail.com.

Soroptimist International of Bend Announces Two $2000 Live Your Dream Winners

February 25, 2021: Soroptimist International of Bend is pleased to introduce the two winners of the annual “Live Your Dream Award” for 2021. Each woman will receive $2000 that she can use to further her educational pursuits. The recipients are chosen with much thought given to their circumstances, challenges, intended goals and financial needs. Both of this year’s winners have demonstrated determination, persistence, purpose and grace while dealing with personal challenges.

Jasmine, a single mother of two, moved to Central Oregon after accepting a position as a Community Engagement Coordinator for a non-profit organization that deals with childhood trauma. During her time with the organization, she coordinated and managed awareness events around ACES (Adverse Childhood Experiences and Trauma-Informed) approaches. She is currently training to become a certified Peer Support Specialist in order to use her lived experiences with domestic violence, racial trauma, and adverse childhood experiences to be of support and empower others who are dealing with those issues with patience and compassion. She is also studying to become certified in the field of human services in order to work as an advocate to be of support to those who are facing homelessness due to leaving domestic and other adverse experiences. Enrolled at Portland Community College, she is the recipient of the Live Your Dream Award which is underwritten by a grant from Central Electric Cooperative.

Aimé Maxwell, a single mother of one, is a Licensed Massage Therapist in the process of completing her AAS in Massage Therapy at Central Oregon Community College. As a Licensed Massage Therapist, Ms. Maxwell has become aware that many people do see massage as therapy and use the time to speak of their feelings. This has prompted her to make additional goals. Her next step will be to enroll at Eastern Oregon University to obtain a degree in Business and then at the University of Oregon for a Master's in Psychology. Her goal is to become a Mind/Body Therapist via massage and psychotherapy.

LYDA applications are available each fall online at www.sibend.org. Women who are pursuing their education, financially needy, head of household and enrolled in a certificated educational program are encouraged to apply. A separate local Soroptimist “Live Your Dream Award” is underwritten by Central Electric Cooperative for women who meet the above criteria and who are CEC members in good standing. For more information – www.sibend.org.

ANNUAL EDUCATIONAL AWARD APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED NOW

SPONSORED BY SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL OF BEND (SI BEND)

BEND, OR, September 22, 2020: Applications for the “Live Your Dream Award" offered by Soroptimist International of Bend, will be taken from October 1 until November 15, 2020 Applications for the $2000 awards are available online at www.sibend.org.

To qualify, the applicant must be a financially needy, head of household woman who is pursuing higher education. “LYDA” applicants must be entering into or enrolled in a college certificate/degree program. The money may be used for any educational expense including tuition, childcare, and/or transportation by the awardees.

In addition, one of the scholarships is underwritten by Central Electric Cooperative and specifically set aside for a CEC member in good standing. She must also meet SI Bend’s award criteria. To be clear, a CEC member may apply for either award.

For over 30 years the SI Bend women’s service club, has awarded $70,000+ to local women in educational assistance. The annual SI Bend Holiday Wreath and Evergreen fundraising sale, currently in progress at www.sibend.org, supports these awards.

Visit www.sibend.org to view and download applications, or contact Soroptimist member Jan Swander at j.m.swander@gmail.com for more information. The deadline for award entries is November 15, 2020.

####

Celebrating 75+ Years of Service

Service never goes out of style . Soroptimist International of Bend (SI Bend), has been providing community support serving women and girls of Central Oregon since 1943. SI Bend is the longest, continuously running women’s service organization in Bend, offering educational awards to local students, plus, supporting Bethlehem Inn, Head Start, Grandma’s House, Kids Center, The Loft and more. Internationally, SI Bend’s outreach programs“Bras from Bend” assists women rescued from human trafficking especially from the sex slave trade through the campaign “Free the Girls.” For more information, please contact info@sibend.org.] Soroptimist International of Bend, OR | Est. 1943 www.sibend.org

ANNUAL EDUCATIONAL AWARD APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED NOW

SPONSORED BY SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL OF BEND (SI BEND)

BEND, OR, September 20, 2019:

Applications for the “Live Your Dream” Awards offered by Soroptimist International of Bend, will be taken from October 1 until November 15, 2019.. Applications are available online at www.sibend.org. A minimum of two $2000 educational awards will be given. One of the scholarships is specifically set aside for a Central Electric Cooperative (CEC) member in good standing meeting the award criteria.

To qualify, the applicant must be a financially needy, head of household woman who is pursuing higher education. “LYDA” applicants must be entering into or enrolled in a college certificate/degree program. The money may be used for any educational expense including tuition, childcare, and/or transportation by the awardees.

For over 30 years the SI Bend women’s service club, has awarded $65,000+ to local women in educational assistance. The annual SI Bend Holiday Evergreen fundraising sale (going on now at www.sibend.org) supports these awards.

Visit www.sibend.org to view and download applications, or contact Soroptimist member Jan Swander at j.m.swander@gmail.com for more information. The deadline for award entries is November 15, 2019.

####

Celebrating 75+ Years of Service

[Service never goes out of style . Soroptimist International of Bend (SI Bend), has been providing community support serving women and girls of Central Oregon since 1943. SI Bend is the longest, continuously running women’s service organization in Bend, offering educational awards to local students, plus, supporting Bethlehem Inn, Head Start, Grandma’s House, Kids Center, The Loft and more. Internationally, SI Bend’s outreach programs“Bras from Bend” assists women rescued from human trafficking especially from the sex slave trade through the campaign “Free the Girls.” For more information, please contact info@sibend.org. ]Soroptimist International of Bend, OR | Est. 1943 www.sibend.org

Dr. Shirley Metcalf, President of Central Oregon Community College was our keynote speaker at the annual Live Your Dream Awards Banquet. Three COCC students each received a $2000 award. Aleshia Detweiler, Becky Pomeroy and Ana Torres are on their way to becoming a nutritional therapeutic practitioner, a police officer and an elementary teacher, respectively. SI of Bend is very pleased that Ms. Detweiler is also one of the NWRSIA award winners, receiving an additional $3000.

Women's Opportunity Award

The Women's Opportunity Award (WOA) is given to women who are entering and/or enrolled in college certificate or degree programs, are head of household and have a financial need. This year, SI Bend awarded two women with a WOA in the amount of $1500, Johannah Quinlan from Bend and Jacqueline Clements from Burns.

  WOA Recipients: Johannah Quinlan, Jacqueline Clements (Not Pictured)

 Violet Richardson Award

Two Violet Richardson Awards were given at the Soroptimist International Annual Awards Luncheon in the amount of $500 each. This award is given on the basis of a young woman's commitment and accomplishments toward making her community and the world a better place through volunteerism.

Violet Richardson Award Recipients: Alyssa DiMaio and Hannah Fraser

Summit senior, Alyssa DiMaio has shown her community dedication by volunteering at Grandma's House for the past four years. Her contributions included organizing donations of food and clothing, assisting the Executive Director at community events, giving presentations at schools, as well as being a mentor to the residents of Grandma's House. Alyssa also has worked part time at Kid's Club at the Athletic Club of Bend caring for infants and toddlers. She will be attending Gonzaga University in Spokane in the fall.

Hannah Fraser, also a Summit senior, has shown her community spirit with her work as the president and community service coordinator of Summit's Interact Club. During her tenure, Interact has in partnership with the local Rotary, funded water filters, volunteered with struggling students, volunteered at the Boys and Girls Club and organized nights to feed the homeless. She intends to continue volunteering at the Eugene Boys and Girls Club in the fall where she will attend the University of Oregon Robert D. Clark Honors College.

 Pictured Above: Charlotte Swaney, Rachel Aranda, Kristina West

This year we were able to give awards to three very deserving women in Central Oregon.

The Violet Richardson Award of $500 is for young women, between the ages of 14 and 17, who volunteer in activities that make the community and world a better place. The 2013 Violet Richardson Award recipient is Charlotte Swaney.

The Women's Opportunity Award of $1000 is for women who are entering and/or enrolled in college certificate or degree programs, are head of household and have a financial need. Two awards were granted this year. The 2013 Women's Opportunity Award recipients are Rachel Aranda and Kristina West.