Best for Women
Learn more about Soroptimist
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.
Amy – 2023 Live Your Dream Awardee
Amy is enrolled in the practical nursing program at Durham Tech Community College. She works part-time and is a single mother. Amy moved to the United States to be with her spouse in 2018. Having always been very passionate about helping people and making a...
Krystal – 2023 Live Your Dream Awardee
Krystal is pursuing an associate degree in early childhood education at Stanly Community College. She works full-time and is a single parent of 3 children. Her oldest daughter is 20 and working, but due to mental health issues continues to live at home. Her middle...
Portia – 2022 Live Your Dream Awardee
Portia is currently pursuing an associate degree in nursing at Wake Technical Community College. She works part-time while getting her education and raising two children ages 3 and 7. There have been many struggles Portia has dealt with during her journey, from...
News and Events
SIA 48th Biennial Convention
In July, Soroptimist Raleigh members Carolyn Skowron and Lashonda White traveled to Bellevue, Wash., for the Soroptimist International of the Americas (SIA) 48th Biennial Convention. The inspiring event brought together nearly 700 members representing 360 Soroptimist...
Summer PuzzleMania Raises Over $9,500!
Last Saturday we held our 6th PuzzleMania fundraiser and this was a record-breaking one! With the help of our puzzlers and corporate sponsors, we were able to raise over $9,500 for our Dream programs which support women and girls in the Triangle. It was great to see...
Live Your Dream Awardee Earns Master’s Degree
Pictured above: Shanetta Edwards, middle, with her children, Amaranth, left, and Brantley, right. Congratulations to Shanetta Edwards (aka Chef Netta), a 2021 Live Your Dream Award recipient, for earning her Master's Degree in Nutrition Science from Meredith College....