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Welcome to
Farmington Valley Soroptimist Club

Email Address:
sifarmingtonvalley@soroptimist.net

Club Officers:
President: Kathleen Oyanadel
Vice-President: Sharon Alleman
Secretary: Elizabeth "Betsy" Berman
Operating Treasurer: Linda Terry
Service Treasurer: Marilee Porter
Director: Kirsten Benson
Director: Eileen Moskey

Committees:
Membership: Kathy McAfee
Linda Daniels-Miller
Public Awareness: Carol Gould
Ruby Award TBD
Violet Richardson Award: Linda Stein
Women's Opportunity Award: Joan Hofmann

Fundraisers:
Fall
- Wreath Selling
Spring - Fundraising Event
Ongoing - Women's Self-Defense Workshops

Our club strives to hold one fundraising event in the Fall & Spring of each club year (Sept. to June) to raise awareness about Soroptimist and financially support our service projects.

Service Projects:
Grace Academy, Hartford, CT ~

Grace Academy is an independent school dedicated to providing a quality, tuition-free education to girls of all faiths from low-income families residing in Hartford’s inner city neighborhoods.
  Since opening in September 2010, SIFV has provided financial, in-kind and service assistance to the school.  SIFV members provide workshops and help organize clubs for the girls to participate in.  We find this to be personally gratifying and the organization greatly appreciates our assistance.

Prudence Crandall Center (PCC), New Britain, CT ~
Over the last few years, SIFV has assisted PCC, the oldest domestic violence program in the State of Connecticut in several ways:

  • Assistance for the region's Janet Pfeiler Advancing the Status of Women 2009 grant application.  PCC received this $2,000 award in April 2009 and used it to establish a computer resource room for residents.
  • In 2009, received a $7,000 Soroptimist Club Grant for Women and Girls from SIA Federation to help support its "SIFV & PCC Partners to Eradicate Domestic Violence" project.   SIFV was able to purchase beds, bedding, linens, etc. to outfit the new Emergency Shelter (see photos below).
  • In 2009, donated $5,000 to PCC from fundraising events to name a two bedroom emergency shelter residence.
  • In 2010, received a $2,500 Soroptimist Club Grant for Women and Girls from SIA Federation to  help support its "Welcome to a New Hope...a New Beginning" project.  With these funds, the club purchases items for, assembles and delivers "welcome" kits containing personal care/hygiene items for women and infants coming to PCC's Emergency Shelter without these necessary items (see photos below).
  • In 2011, received a $500 Janet Pfeiler Advancing the Status of Women club award from the Northeastern Region to help support its "Helping Young Hearts Heal" project.  With these funds, the club purchased items such as paint/paint supplies, tables/chairs, bookcases and other supplies to help establish a Child/Teen Resource Center at PCC's Rose Hill facility.  This resource center created a bright, safe place to aid PCC's child/teen population in its healing process.
  • Ongoing - financially via proceeds from our fundraisers and through procured grants.

PCC Emergency Kit Photos:

SIFV members with final delivery of "Welcome" (Emergency) Kits to PCC - June 2011.  Originally the budget was to deliver 150 of these kits, but we were able to deliver 170 of them throughout the club year as well as additional diapers, pull-ups, wipes, basic medicines, first-aid kits and other needed supplies.



Delivery of 50 "Welcome" (Emergency) Kits to PCC in December 2010.  There were 40 for women and 10 for infants delivered as well as additional supplies of diapers, pull-ups, etc.  The money for these kits comes from a $2,500 Soroptimist Club Grant for Women and Girls and will enable our club to deliver 150 of these kits in club year 2010-2011.

The photos below are the 26 Women's Emergency Kits and 8 Infant's Kits that SIFV made in February 2010 for the victims of domestic violence that arrive Prudence Crandall Center's Emergency Shelter with no personal care items.

    

                    

The women's kits contain items such as deodorant, shampoo, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, etc. The infant's kits contain diapers, baby wipes, baby wash, lotion and diaper rash cream. The goal is to provide 2-3 days of personal care items to these clients.

PCC - Twin Bed Delivery Photos

In November 2009, SIFV purchased 21 twin beds for Prudence Crandall Center. This purchase was made possible as part of the Federation grant awarded for our project "SIFV & PCC...Partners to Eradicate Domestic Violence". These are photos of the delivery truck and beds being delivered.

Thanks to Bedding Barn for their cooperation in helping us get these much needed items to PCC and for arranging for free delivery & setup!

 

Self-Defense Workshops, Canton CT
This community service project, sponsored by the women of SIFV and members of Yu's Academy for Martial Arts, is free of charge. However, attendees have generously donated money and helped us raise over $1000 to date to help our service projects which improve the lives of women and girls in our local community and throughout the world.

Photo of students and teachers at Yu's Academy for Martial Arts in one of our Self-Defense Workshops for women. The men were very brave to get suited up so we could really hit them hard! Thanks to Yu's Academy in Canton, CT for allowing us to conduct these vital workshops to help women learn basic skills to protect themselves! For more information and photos about the self-defense workshops, please visit www.bestforwomenselfdefense.com
 


Women's Opportunity Award
Each year SIFV awards a female head of household pursuing higher education to improve her employment opportunities a monetary award that she may use as she wishes while she is enrolled in school.  This is a signature project of Soroptimist. Our club winner then proceeds to the Regional level and, if declared winner there, proceeds to the Federation level for judging.

Applications are received by our club from October 1, 2012 to December 15, 2012. Applications received after this deadline will not be considered. To receive an application by mail, please email us. To download an application, please click here. You will also need to download the reference form that needs to be completed. Both forms are in PDF format. The amount of our club award is $2,000.

To view and/or print an "At a Glance" Eligibility Form for this award, please click here.

To view and/or print a Women's Opportunity Poster, please click here.


Violet Richardson Award

Each year SIFV presents a young woman between the ages of 14 & 17 a monetary award for her outstanding community service.   A monetary award is also given to the institution she volunteers with.  In prior years, we've also had a runner-up for this award.  Again, this is one of the Soroptimist signature projects.

Membership 
Do you live in the Farmington Valley and want to learn more about our club? Then contact us! We'd love to have you as a guest at an upcoming meeting or event!
 

Membership Chairs: Kathy McAfee, (860) 408-0033
                               Linda Daniels-Miller, (860)  677-5533

President: Kathleen Oyanadel, (860) 921-5379

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Chartered Nov. 17, 2004

Meeting Date:
First Monday of each month except on holidays.
6:30pm

Download and/or view our
Club Calendar

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Download or view our
Club Brochure
(PDF Document)

Press Release  for "Welcome Kits" for the Prudence Crandall Center

Press Release for
Women's Opportunity Award

Watch this video from
Soroptimist member
Kathy McAfee


May 13, 2013
6:00pm
Club Meeting
Simsbury Public Library

 

 

 

 


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Last modified: 04/16/13