2026 Live Your Dream Awards
Meet this years recipients
Soroptimist Raleigh: Empowering 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 Dream programs are at the heart of what we do.
Our Programs
Live Your Dream
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.
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
These are the real stories of recipients of the Live Your Dream Awards. We hope they will encourage you to take the steps to achieve your dreams, big or small.
Shameka – 2016 Live Your Dreams Awardee
Shameka is pursuing her Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education at Wake Tech Community College. She has already completed a Child Care Certificate at Wayne Community College. Shameka became interested in the child care field when she was in high school and she...
Adrienne – 2016 Live Your Dream Awardee
Adrienne’s long term goal is to become a cosmetic dermatologist. She is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Science degree in Pre-Medicine Nutrition at NC Agriculture & Technical State University. She plans to attend an osteopathic medical school after completing...
Mollie – 2016 Live Your Dreams Awardee
Molli’s current job in furniture sales has helped her find her career niche. She is pursuing a Bachelor Degree in Fine Arts at the Art Institute of Raleigh-Durham. Molli is studying interior design with a goal of working first in residential design, and later in...
News and Events
Soroptimist Raleigh Celebrates Completion of Club Year
Members of Soroptimist of Raleigh wrapped up the 2022 - 2023 club year with a lively dinner social at Cantina 18 in Raleigh. In addition to a review of the accomplishments of the past year by President Betsy Miller, newly elected board members were installed by...
Summer PuzzleMania: Saturday August 5
Love puzzles? Join us for a FUN fundraiser to benefit Soroptimist Raleigh's Dream Programs for women and girls. In this FUN-raising event, teams of four compete to assemble an identical 500-piece jigsaw puzzle in the fastest time. There are cash prizes for the first...
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...