Real Stories
Read the Real Stories of the 2023 Live Your Dream Award recipients.
Soroptimist Raleigh: We Empower Girls & Women
Soroptimist Raleigh is a local club of Soroptimist International. Soroptimist is a global volunteer organization that provides women and girls with access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment. The name, Soroptimist, means “best for women,” and that’s what the organization strives to achieve. Soroptimists are women at their best, working to help other women to be their best.
Our service projects collaborate extensively with women’s groups, governmental agencies, educators, international and statewide coalitions, and concerned citizens. In terms of our local service projects:
Live Your Dream
The Soroptimist Live Your Dream: Education & Training Awards
for Women program is our signature service project. This award aids women who are the primary wage earners for their families and are seeking to improve their economic status by gaining additional skills, training and education.
Live Your Dream Plus
In our “Live Your Dream Plus” program we follow up with our awardees for up to three years, mentoring them to afford ongoing support both non-financial as well as financial. With our Live Your Dream Plus program, our awardees know that there is a network of women who are ready to help in any number of ways.
Dream It Be It
Dream It Be It targets girls in secondary school who face obstacles to their future success. It provides girls with access to professional role models, career education and the resources to live their dreams.
Real Stories
Here are a few stories of some recipeints of the Live Your Dream Awards. Perhaps they will encourage you to take the steps to achieve your dreams, big or small.
Maggie – 2023 Live Your Dream Awardee
Maggie is pursuing an associate degree in surgical technology at Durham Tech Community College. She works part-time and is the mother of 2 children, aged 7 and 2. Maggie has faced plenty of adversity but her commitment to her personal growth and her lifelong dream of...
Tiffany – 2023 Live Your Dream Awardee
Tiffany is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business administration at UNC Pembroke, with a prospective graduation date of December 2023. She is a full-time student while working a full-time job and raising two children as a single parent. She was also...
Tara – 2023 Live Your Dream Awardee
Tara is currently enrolled in the medical administration program at Bryan University and is planning to complete her associate degree in 2024, a goal she is pursuing while working full-time and raising her twelve-year-old son and nine-year-old daughter. Earning her...
News and Events
Member Profile: Sarita Harkness
From Soroptimist International of Panama to Soroptimist International of Raleigh Sarita Harkness was born in Panama of immigrant grandparents. On her paternal side were Syrian Jews, from Jerusalem and Alexandria, respectively. On her mother’s side, her grandfather was...
Meet and Greet April 18
Do you have a passion for improving the lives of women and girls? Soroptimist of Raleigh is hosting a Get-Acquainted Meet and Greet on Tuesday, April 18 at Total Wine in Raleigh’s North Hills. Join us for a fun time and an opportunity to: Enjoy light refreshments Meet...
SI Raleigh on MyCarolina March 13
We were THRILLED to be on My Carolina this morning! Members Mary Woodard and Deborah Scott talked about Soroptimist Raleigh, our Live Your Dream Awards program and how they're proud to be part of an organization that helps women and girls in the Triangle! Watch the...