Soroptimist International of Tahoe Sierra is a committee-driven organization.  Each member is asked to join a Service and a Technical committee of her choice upon gaining membership.  All monies donated to the club are allocated to the service fund.  Service committees then provide the mechanism by which the club returns the money donated through fundraising back into the community.  All requests for funding are directed to the appropriate committee for review and allocation. 

                             Service Committees                                          

Awards Chairperson Lisa Huard and Marilyn Pawling

Violet Richardson Award

Monetary award to eligible young women ages 14 - 17 years of age who have a passion for volunteerism, supporting women and/or children in some capacity.  There are no restrictions on the type of activity.

Women's Opportunity Award   

Monetary award for women who are heads of households, returning to school or work and need financial support or assistance.  This is a signature project that begins at the local club level, allowing winners to advance to regional and federation levels.                                                            

Economic & Social Development Chairperson Cookie Rork
Baby Book Bags

Financial support to Lake Tahoe Reading Council to supply a bag with books and a t-shirt to every baby born at Barton Memorial Hospital during the month of January.

Boys & Girls Club

Financial support to the South Lake Tahoe Boys & Girls Club

NAMI (National Alliance of Mentally Ill)

Financial support of the local group that assists the mentally ill in our community

CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates)

Financial support for the volunteer program of CASA, who work with children involved in the justice system because of divorce, custody issues, or other issues.                        

Education Chairperson Cookie Rork

Art Education in Schools  

Financial support for an Art Education Program in the elementary schools.   

School Backpacks & Supplies

Supply backpacks and school supplies to local children in need, distributed through the Women's Center and CASA.

Drug Store Project

Volunteer and financial support for a substance abuse education program taught in the local schools through the Lake Tahoe Unified School District.

Kids College Scholarships

Financial support allowing children to attend summer classes offered by the local community college.

Lake Tahoe Educational Foundation

Parent/School Partnership

Financial support for a program which encourages parents to become involved in their child's education and to become an advocate for their child in school.

Summer Reading Program

Every student enrolled in the Lake Tahoe Unified School District's elementary schools, St. Theresa's, Zephyr Cove Elementary, and Kingsbury Middle School, grades pre-K through eighth, receives a book to read over the summer vacation and to add to their home library.

“Shall promote programs to implement Soroptimist goals in physical, mental, and emotional health.  Shall promote action to improve our environment, to conserve our natural resources and to plan projects within the community relating to parks and nature.”

Over the years, the HWHW Committee has achieved many important goals.  Some of the projects our committee has worked on and contributed to (and had lots of fun at the same time) are:

• The linear grove of trees and the stone marker on Hwy 50 honoring past presidents
• Permanent bike trail maps on city bike trail markers
• Fire Department thermal (heat detection) cameras
• New community track at STMS
• Relay for Life (cancer society benefit to assist cancer victims and families)
• Fund to provide mammograms for uninsured women
• Elementary school field trip fees for disadvantaged students
• Scholarships for children of rural, agricultural workers in San Quintin, Mexico, affording them a chance for a better life
• Generator for Red Cross to provide power for emergency services in the event of future disasters
• Informative session on topic of prevention of and treatment for osteoporosis
• Donation of fresh produce to supplement Senior Brown Bag Program which has been recently cut back by the state
• Informational handout on topic of how to donate recyclable items to non-profit organizations
• Transportation of recyclable electronic waste to recycling center in Carson City
• Financial donation to help low income girls buy P.E. clothes for STHS P.E. classes
• Bike Trail clean up project (Al Tahoe Blvd)

Sierra Recovery Center

Financial support allocated for unexpected expenditures not covered by current funding.

Women's Shelter

Financial support allocated for unexpected expenditures not covered by current funding.

Women in History

To actively illustrate the stories of various women leaders throughout history, shown through programs, presentations and literary materials at the local library.

Habitat for Humanity

To provide support locally for the national organization, Habitat for Humanity.

UN School in a Box

Financial support for school supplies donated to children to third world areas.

Soroptimist of the America's Quadrennial Project ~ Sierra Leone

Financial contribution to Soroptimist International of the America's program that provides seed money to women struggling for financial stability and independence in third world countries.

Heifer Project

Provide employment means to women who are heads of households so they are able to provide long-term support for their families..

Women's Baskets

Gift baskets distributed through Sierra Recovery Center, South Lake Tahoe Women's Center, Young Parents Program and Senior Shut-ins.

Library Books & Magazines

Purchase of books for the local library on topics about outstanding women in history both for adults and children; magazine subscriptions for incarcerated women at the local jail.

Thailand Book Program

Vagina Monologues in Spanish

To provide a bi-lingual version of the Vagina Monologues to the local Hispanic population.

 

Outstanding Student Awards and Scholarships

Recognize most improved and outstanding students and scholarship winners from middle school, high school and the local community college.

On Your Way Awards

Recognize students who are improving on their reading skills in the third, fourth and fifth grades. 

Sober Grad Night

Sponsors South Tahoe High School seniors through volunteering at the annual Sober Grad Night.

Step It Up

A new program at South Tahoe Middle School that recognizes students who are improving their reading skills.