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.
Orrie – 2025 Live Your Dream Awardee
Orrie is currently enrolled at Wake Technical Community College as a dental assisting student. She plans to transition to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Dental Hygiene program at the Adams School of Dentistry in the fall of 2026. She views dental...
Alisha – 2025 Live Your Dream Awardee
Alisha is pursuing a degree in early childhood education at Western Governors University Online, and will graduate in November 2025. Alisha is currently working as a Lead Ancillary Teacher at a Christian Montessori School. She is a dedicated wife and mother to an...
Marktika – 2025 Live Your Dream Awardee
Marktika is enrolled in a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) program with a goal of becoming a registered nurse. She is the sole provider for her 12-year-old daughter, who has a disability.She currently works as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) in a nursing home....
News and Events
PuzzleMania Now Feb. 7
Due to the upcoming winter storm, we have made the difficult decision to reschedule PuzzleMania to the following Saturday, February 7. It will be at the same location & the same time so we hope to see everyone there! If you CAN attend…Wonderful! We will see you...
Puzzle Swap 2026
On January 10, Soroptimist International of Raleigh, in partnership with Raleigh Brewing Company, hosted a lively and successful Puzzle Swap that welcomed more than 100 puzzle enthusiasts for an afternoon of fun and connection. Attendees swapped puzzles, learned more...
PuzzleMania VIII – Jan. 31
Join us at our 8th PuzzleMania, where teams of four race against the clock — and each other — by assembling an identical 500-piece puzzle. All while raising funds to support local women and girls! -- Prizes for the fastest teams-- Door Prizes-- A 50/50 raffle-- Silent...