Soroptomist gives out $5K to community

June 10, 2015
Charlea Mills
For the past almost 21 years, the Soroptomist Club of Barry County has been working to help women and girls locally. August will mark 21 years since the inception of the group, and, last month, they gave out $5,000 in scholarships and grants to area women and girls and the organizations who help them.
Soroptomist is a global organization comprised of volunteers on the local level who work to empower and improve the lives of women and girls. The organization supports programs that aid in social and economic development. There are a variety of grants and assistance programs available for local women through Soroptomist.
Within the local Soroptomist chapter, the group f 23 members gives out two different scholarships to graduating high school seniors, the Sandra Forrester scholarship and the Violet Richardson scholarship. Both scholarships are awarded to local girls pursuing different endeavors in their college careers.
The Sandra Forester scholarship was created for one of the founding charter members after she passed away. It is awarded each year to a student pursuing a degree in the arts. This year, the award was given to three students from Cassville High School, Kylee Cotton, Sophia Mueller and Autumn Scott. Each of the girls received $300 toward their college expenses. The girls also brought samples of their artwork to show Soroptomist members.
The Violet Richardson Award is an international award given to a young girl who goes above and beyond in the area of volunteerism. Each year, a girl is chosen based on her volunteer efforts in the community. This year’s winner was Cassville High School’s Grace Gouvion. Gouvion told the group about her efforts in the community before Soroptomist member Jill LeCompte gave her the award.
The club also has other grants, including the Live Your Dream award, which is gifted to a woman who is pursuing a higher education as the head of her household, and the RUBY Award, which is given to a woman in the community who spends a lot of time volunteering.
Live Your Dream used to be called the Women’s Opportunity Award. This grant is an international program that is offered through local clubs worldwide. This year’s Live your Dream award was given to Miranda Wright for her continuing education.
This year, Diane Shiveley was selected as the RUBY award winner for her efforts volunteering in the community. She chose to donate her $300 to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
When asked why Soroptomist is important to the Barry County community, this year’s club president Leslie Smith said, “We can help non-for-profits that otherwise would not have the opportunity to help the individuals within our community.”
In line with that train of thought, the club also selects different local organizations to donate to each year. Barry County non-profit organizations apply for money for specific programs that help women and children within the community, then the club selects which ones to donate. This year, the club was able to go above and beyond, giving more funds than requested by a few of the groups.
This year’s award recipients for funds were Lives Under Construction (LUC) Boys Ranch, Kornerstone, Cassville YMCA, Sigma Epsilon Sorority, Cassville Schools Bright Futures and the Barry County Youth Camp.
The Barry County Youth Camp received $600 for their camp. Each year, The Barry County Youth Camp takes kids from the different Barry County school districts to a special one-week camp who might not otherwise be able to go camping. The camp was held last week at Camp Smokey at Roaring River State Park.
The LUC Boys Ranch received $600 for mowing equipment and supplies at their facility. Each year, the LUC Boys Ranch helps boys who are at-risk through their Christian treatment program.
Kornerstone received $500 to go toward their fatherhood program. Kornerstone provides mothering education, doula services and support for teen moms in Barry County. Now, they have added a fatherhood program that helps teach dads how to interact and care for their baby, as well.
The Cassville YMCA received $500 for their Strong Kids program which helps ensure that families and children can participate in YMCA programs regardless of their financial situation. By giving scholarships to families in need, they can use the facilities at a fraction of the cost.
Two representatives from Sigma Epsilon Sorority were also at the meeting to receive their donation of $500 for Project Prom Dress. The sorority purchases and collects donations of prom dresses for girls who cannot afford a dress. It ensures that all girls have a dress and are made to feel beautiful for their prom, regardless of their financial situation.
Bright Futures is a program at Cassville School that provides help for kids in need. If a child needs shoes or clothes, they rally and get whatever they need within 48-hours of being alerted to a need. That means teachers and other faculty keep an eye out during the year for any child that needs a bit of a hand during the year. Soroptomist donated $500 for a special cause for the year, head lice kits. Assistant superintendent Jill LeCompte said, “With some kids, we may not see them for a week after they are diagnosed with head lice. The treatment kits are pretty expensive and families sometimes can’t afford them right away. So this way, when a child is found to have head lice, we send them home with a kit and they’ll be back at school the next day. It’s much better for the kids than missing all of that school and eases the burden on the family.”
Barry County’s Soroptomist raises money to support the various grants and scholarships each year through fundraisers. The group members sell packaged nuts around the holidays, and they also host a potato bake each year around St. Patrick’s Day. Members volunteer their time, energy and baking skills to support the events and raise money for the various awards.
However, the group doesn’t just donate the funds raised through their annual fundraisers. Oftentimes, the group donates as individuals to different causes in the community selected by the Dreams in Action committee. For example, if the Cassville Food Pantry is low on an item, such as toothpaste or a particular canned good, the ladies will each bring that item to the meeting. They also did the same for Kornerstone with baby toys for new moms to pick up for Christmas gifts for their children.
Soroptomist member Cheryl Williams said, “It’s a chance to give back and help out the ladies in the community.”
In the end, the club is dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls in the community, and the contribution ends up being much more than just money, but also a hand up when needed the tools necessary to further their hopes and dreams.
Smith said, “There is such a need to help women and girls and be able to give them a chance to succeed.”
Charlea Mills
For the past almost 21 years, the Soroptomist Club of Barry County has been working to help women and girls locally. August will mark 21 years since the inception of the group, and, last month, they gave out $5,000 in scholarships and grants to area women and girls and the organizations who help them.
Soroptomist is a global organization comprised of volunteers on the local level who work to empower and improve the lives of women and girls. The organization supports programs that aid in social and economic development. There are a variety of grants and assistance programs available for local women through Soroptomist.
Within the local Soroptomist chapter, the group f 23 members gives out two different scholarships to graduating high school seniors, the Sandra Forrester scholarship and the Violet Richardson scholarship. Both scholarships are awarded to local girls pursuing different endeavors in their college careers.
The Sandra Forester scholarship was created for one of the founding charter members after she passed away. It is awarded each year to a student pursuing a degree in the arts. This year, the award was given to three students from Cassville High School, Kylee Cotton, Sophia Mueller and Autumn Scott. Each of the girls received $300 toward their college expenses. The girls also brought samples of their artwork to show Soroptomist members.
The Violet Richardson Award is an international award given to a young girl who goes above and beyond in the area of volunteerism. Each year, a girl is chosen based on her volunteer efforts in the community. This year’s winner was Cassville High School’s Grace Gouvion. Gouvion told the group about her efforts in the community before Soroptomist member Jill LeCompte gave her the award.
The club also has other grants, including the Live Your Dream award, which is gifted to a woman who is pursuing a higher education as the head of her household, and the RUBY Award, which is given to a woman in the community who spends a lot of time volunteering.
Live Your Dream used to be called the Women’s Opportunity Award. This grant is an international program that is offered through local clubs worldwide. This year’s Live your Dream award was given to Miranda Wright for her continuing education.
This year, Diane Shiveley was selected as the RUBY award winner for her efforts volunteering in the community. She chose to donate her $300 to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
When asked why Soroptomist is important to the Barry County community, this year’s club president Leslie Smith said, “We can help non-for-profits that otherwise would not have the opportunity to help the individuals within our community.”
In line with that train of thought, the club also selects different local organizations to donate to each year. Barry County non-profit organizations apply for money for specific programs that help women and children within the community, then the club selects which ones to donate. This year, the club was able to go above and beyond, giving more funds than requested by a few of the groups.
This year’s award recipients for funds were Lives Under Construction (LUC) Boys Ranch, Kornerstone, Cassville YMCA, Sigma Epsilon Sorority, Cassville Schools Bright Futures and the Barry County Youth Camp.
The Barry County Youth Camp received $600 for their camp. Each year, The Barry County Youth Camp takes kids from the different Barry County school districts to a special one-week camp who might not otherwise be able to go camping. The camp was held last week at Camp Smokey at Roaring River State Park.
The LUC Boys Ranch received $600 for mowing equipment and supplies at their facility. Each year, the LUC Boys Ranch helps boys who are at-risk through their Christian treatment program.
Kornerstone received $500 to go toward their fatherhood program. Kornerstone provides mothering education, doula services and support for teen moms in Barry County. Now, they have added a fatherhood program that helps teach dads how to interact and care for their baby, as well.
The Cassville YMCA received $500 for their Strong Kids program which helps ensure that families and children can participate in YMCA programs regardless of their financial situation. By giving scholarships to families in need, they can use the facilities at a fraction of the cost.
Two representatives from Sigma Epsilon Sorority were also at the meeting to receive their donation of $500 for Project Prom Dress. The sorority purchases and collects donations of prom dresses for girls who cannot afford a dress. It ensures that all girls have a dress and are made to feel beautiful for their prom, regardless of their financial situation.
Bright Futures is a program at Cassville School that provides help for kids in need. If a child needs shoes or clothes, they rally and get whatever they need within 48-hours of being alerted to a need. That means teachers and other faculty keep an eye out during the year for any child that needs a bit of a hand during the year. Soroptomist donated $500 for a special cause for the year, head lice kits. Assistant superintendent Jill LeCompte said, “With some kids, we may not see them for a week after they are diagnosed with head lice. The treatment kits are pretty expensive and families sometimes can’t afford them right away. So this way, when a child is found to have head lice, we send them home with a kit and they’ll be back at school the next day. It’s much better for the kids than missing all of that school and eases the burden on the family.”
Barry County’s Soroptomist raises money to support the various grants and scholarships each year through fundraisers. The group members sell packaged nuts around the holidays, and they also host a potato bake each year around St. Patrick’s Day. Members volunteer their time, energy and baking skills to support the events and raise money for the various awards.
However, the group doesn’t just donate the funds raised through their annual fundraisers. Oftentimes, the group donates as individuals to different causes in the community selected by the Dreams in Action committee. For example, if the Cassville Food Pantry is low on an item, such as toothpaste or a particular canned good, the ladies will each bring that item to the meeting. They also did the same for Kornerstone with baby toys for new moms to pick up for Christmas gifts for their children.
Soroptomist member Cheryl Williams said, “It’s a chance to give back and help out the ladies in the community.”
In the end, the club is dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls in the community, and the contribution ends up being much more than just money, but also a hand up when needed the tools necessary to further their hopes and dreams.
Smith said, “There is such a need to help women and girls and be able to give them a chance to succeed.”