By Kimi Danaei
Executive Theme Editor
Soroptimist International of Manhattan Beach hosted their annual Live Your Dream: Education and Training Awards for Women Program virtually this year to provide women in need with cash grants to improve their education, skills and employment prospects.
This event has occurred for over 30 years with Soroptimist clubs all around the world giving over $2 million to about 18,000 women, according to Soroptimist International of Manhattan Beach Membership Vice President Kelly Fogarty. The program’s annual application period opens on Aug. 1 and ends on Nov. 15. Eligible applicants include women who do things such as provide the primary financial support for themself and their dependents, are enrolled in or have been accepted to a vocational/skills training program or an undergraduate degree program and are motivated to achieve their education and career goals, according to Fogarty.
“[Live Your Dream] is a powerful life-changing program. It really is wonderful to meet these women, be involved in their paths for a couple of years or sometimes longer and just try to give them encouragement,” Fogarty said. “The women we get to meet all have their own unique story of course, but they are just so inspiring and it’s great that we are playing a small part in their lives.”
A judging panel made up of three club members and a few community members go through applications to ensure eligibility and prioritize applicants. In Jan. awards are announced, and in March, an awards dinner is held for club members to meet with the women selected. Besides this program, the club will be hosting its annual Dream it, Be it workshop for female teens to meet with mentors, learn about ways to prepare for careers and discuss stress and bullying.
“This is a workshop that allows teen girls to meet with mentors and gives them the opportunity to just sit back, close their eyes and think about what they want their future to look like,” Fogarty said. “A lot of people in high school don’t really get the chance to just visualize their future so we help give them a time to relax and get the information that they need to make their best life in the future.”
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