Carrying On the Spirit of Our Founders...
October 3 marks 100 years since the founding of the very first Soroptimist club in Oakland, California, in 1921. It was a day when women leaders, led by President Violet Richardson, united in their purpose to create an organization committed to improving the lives of women and girls.
President Violet said she “never would have considered the Soroptimist movement had she not envisioned it as worldwide and dedicated to all matters of justice and quality of life.” It seemed that, at long last, women would finally have a club of their own that fought for the equality they all deserved. Today, her vision has come to life in countries around the world.
Some of our historical successes include:
We have grown from a single group in Oakland, CA, USA, into a global network of Soroptimist federations with more than 75,000 members across 6 continents!
Beginning in the 1940’s and continuing on to this day, SIA has transformed the lives of innumerable women by providing education grants through college partnerships, the Founders Fund fellowships, and the Live Your Dream Awards.
We have provided consultation to the United Nations since the 1950’s on matters such as gender equality, sustainable development, trafficking, and education. Soroptimist continues to be a powerful voice of advocacy for women and girls worldwide.
While our 100th anniversary celebration gives us a chance to honor the work and achievements of our members, it is also a time to commit to what is most critical today: helping even more women and girls achieve economic empowerment through access to education.
Our anniversary theme, “Bright Past, Brilliant Future,” perfectly encapsulates the respect for and memory of those incredible women who had the foresight and courage to become Soroptimists and pursue the best for women. It also reminds us that the Soroptimists of today must act with the same forward thinking and courage to make our Brilliant Future come alive through our 2021-2031 Big Goal of investing in the dreams of half a million women and girls through access to education.
As with our predecessors, the road forward may not always be easy. Even after 100 years, women and girls still face inequality, and they still need our help. But our united purpose will see us through. Let us be inspired by the strength and generosity of our founders as we embark on our next century.
Your gift in honor of Soroptimist’s Founders Day provides the resources we need to invest in the dreams of half a million women and girls over the next 10 years.
Now is the time to invest in our future. The Dream Big Campaign will bring critical funds for SIA to expand its reach. It means more support for members and clubs. It means resources to scale up the Dream Programs and develop new avenues of impact. It means a strong foundation of modern tools and technology upon which we can build our brilliant future together. Without these things, reaching our Big Goal won’t be possible—and it certainly won’t be possible without the generosity, passion, and dedication of supporters like you.
It’s time to Dream BIG.
Let’s dream of a world where all women and girls can pursue their dreams of education and a secure future for their children. A world where women and girls can achieve economic empowerment. A world where they create a wave of change that shapes not just themselves, but also their families and communities for the better. Isn’t that a dream worth investing in? Of course it is.
SIA wishes to thank each and every one of our members, past and present, for your countless hours of service, your generous support, the immeasurable ways you’ve changed women and girls’ lives, and the profound sense of love and purpose you bring to our mission every day.
With such amazing members, there’s no doubt that in these next 10 years we will shine brighter than ever—working in unity to help more women and girls reach their full potential and live their dreams!