A global volunteer organization that provides women and girls with access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment.
Our Club
Chartered on June 23, 2019, Soroptimist International of Greater Yuma (SIGY) is part of a global organization focused on empowering women and girls through service projects and programs. Soroptimists work to empower women every day. We believe education is the key to unlocking economic empowerment of the world’s women and girls, giving them the opportunity, choice and power to make healthy decisions for themselves and their families.
2024-2025 Board
Bertha Avila, President
Valarie Donnelly, Vice-President
Monica Ketchum-Cardenas, Treasurer
Dubia Zaragoza, Live Your Dream Chair
Ellen Riek & Joann Chang, Dream It Be It Chairs
Membership
We welcome community members interested in supporting our programs to join our club. Membership dues are $150 per year. Soroptimist uses annual dues to ensure our members have a fun and meaningful club experience while accomplishing our collective mission. Members of SI Greater Yuma also enjoy membership in the Soroptimist International Desert Coast Region, Soroptimist International of the Americas, and Soroptimist International. Join SI Greater Yuma Today!
Soroptimist International
Founded in 1921, Soroptimist International is a global volunteer movement with a network of just under 65,000 club members in 118 countries. Advocating for human rights and gender equality, at the heart of Soroptimist International’s advocacy is its work across seven UN Centres, where our UN representatives ensure that the voices of women and girls are heard. Our membership work on grassroots projects that help women and girls achieve their individual and collective potential, realise aspirations and have an equal voice in communities worldwide.
Each Soroptimist club belongs to one of the five SI Federations within Africa, Great Britain & Ireland, Europe, The Americas and South East Asia Pacific. Explore our Global Map
Links to SIA & SI
Soroptimist International of the Americas
Education is the pathway to economically empowering women and girls
When women learn families live healthier.
Source: Population Reference Bureau
When women are educated their countries are more likely to have greater economic growth.
Source: World Bank
Soroptimist's Live Your Dream Awards program is a unique education award for women who provide the primary financial support for their families. The Live Your Dream Awards give women the resources they need to improve their education, skills and employment prospects.
Over half of our Live Your Dream Awards recipients are survivors of domestic violence, trafficking or sexual assault. Nearly all of the women and families we serve have overcome enormous obstacles including poverty, teen pregnancy, and drug or alcohol addiction. Live Your Dream Awards recipients may use the cash award to offset any costs associated with their efforts to attain higher education, such as books, childcare, tuition and transportation. Club awards range from $500 to $2000 each.
2023-24 SIGY Live Your Dream Awardees with LYDA Club Chair Dubia and DCR Governor Pat
Each year, we accept applications through the LYDA online application system between August 15 and November 15. Awards are presented each Spring.
Our club holds virtual application workshops to assist applicants in writing essays and completing the financial section.
Contact us for information about workshop dates!
Questions? Contact our Live Your Dream Award Chair, Dubia
Dream It, Be It reaches girls in secondary school who face obstacles to their future success. Through small group workshops or a conference setting, we mentor girls on setting and achieving their goals, moving forward after setbacks or failures, and discovering career opportunities.
Although all girls face barriers because of their gender, we prioritize working with girls who have additional obstacles including poverty, unstable home lives, living in foster care, or teen motherhood.
There When It Matters Most
By reaching girls while they are still young, we not only can help them stay healthy and safe in the short term, but we can reduce the number of women in crisis in the future. Putting them on a path will help them realize their dreams.
Helping girls grow to be confident, successful, happy adults!
Topics We Cover
Career opportunities
Setting and achieving goals
Overcoming obstacles to success
Moving forward after setbacks or failures
Empowering girls today allows them to create their best future!
When girls go to school, they are more likely to get paying jobs, and their financial contributions to their families—and their nations—increase.
(Source: Population Reference Bureau)
When girls have educated moms, they are more likely to be enrolled in school and to reach higher levels of education.
(Source: Population Reference Bureau)
Dream Investment Levels
Dream Catcher: $5000
Provides up to 5 Live Your Dream Awards to women in the greater Yuma area seeking to improve the economic status of their families through education and training programs.
recognition on social media, at program events, and in print media. Logo on DIBI t-shirts. Invitation for two to LYDA brunch with special recognition.
SI Greater Yuma is one of over 1300 clubs in Soroptimist International of the Americas, a global volunteer organization that provides resources and opportunities for women and girls to reach their full potential and live their dreams.
Our mission is simple: To improve the lives of women and girls through programs leading to social and economic empowerment.
You can support our work through our Dream Investor Program by pledging to give on an annual or monthly basis.
A heartfelt thanks to our 2023-2024 Dream Investors
Dream Catchers
Kayla Sharp
El Guardian Secreto
&
Remember the Ladies
Dream Weaver
Donna Ketchum
Dream Believers
Lori Stofft
&
Kay Merrill
Dreamer
Lori Harrison
Dream Guardian: $3000 ($250/month)
Provides up to 3 Live Your Dream Awards.
Recognition on social media, at program events, and in print media. Logo on DIBI t-shirts.
Invitation to LYDA brunch with special recognition.
Dream Weaver: $1200 ($100/month)
Provides at least 1 Live Your Dream Award.
Recognition on social media, at program events and in print media. Invitation to LYDA
brunch.
Dream Believer: $500
Helps fund our dream programs.
Recognition on social media, at programs events, and in print media.
Dreamer: $300
Helps fund our Dream programs. Recognition on social media and at program events.
Become a Dream Investor today by clicking the Donate button or contacting SIGY
