New!
You can now make your donation to us online at our
Facebook Page
We are a global volunteer organization working to
improve the lives of women and girls through programs leading to
social and economic empowerment.
Please view our
FAQ for more information about our
club!
We are proud to announce
our new Soroptimist Dream
Grant!
Soroptimist International of Willimantic Dream Grants help
women overcome obstacles to living their dreams. The new grant is
all about helping women who have faced economic and personal
hardships to live their dreams. The program helps women build a
better life for themselves. The Soroptimist Dream Grant
funds up to $500 which can be used for licensing fees, testing fees,
tuition or transportation including bus passes and gas cards. Please
visit our Awards Page
for more details on how to apply.
Upcoming Soroptimist Events ~ July 27, 2019 - Saturday -
Social at Lebanon Green Vineyards,
589 Exeter Road, Lebanon, CT. 2:00pm to 5:00pm.
Come join us for a
little bit of country fun! Live music featuring T-Ray. Wine Tasting
$8.00, No charge for admission. We will have raffle baskets with
proceeds supporting our Soroptimist & Friends Relay for Life team.
Aug. 12, 2019 - Monday - 6:00pm - Back Pack Project for the
Domestic Violence Shelter. School supplies including backpacks will
be needed. We will be assembling the backpacks at Questers' Way in
the East Brook Mall.
Aug. 12, 2019 - Monday - 6:30pm to 7:30pm. We will again be
providing a FREE self defense class for women at Questers' Way in
the Eastbrook Mall. Please RSVP to
siwillimantic@soroptimist.net to
reserve your spot.
Oct. 19, 2019 - Windham Area
Relay for Life, 10:00am to 10:00pm
Soroptimist of Willimantic has a team participating in the
Relay for Life of Greater Windham ~
Soroptimist & Friends! Our club
has participated in our local area Relay for Life since it started,
23 years ago! Our club is
also a Corporate Sponsor.
This year's
Relay for Life is being held on Saturday, October 19, 2019 with
opening ceremonies beginning at 10:00am. It will run for 12 hours
ending at 10:00pm. The relay will be held at the ECSU Sports Complex located at 1 Mansfield City Road, Mansfield, CT.
We will be at the Information Booth! Stop by and say hello!
We extend our heartfelt thanks and gratitude to all our sponsors,
guests, volunteers and members who made our Heart to Heart Ball such
a wonderful success. Your support helps us to empower women and
girls to live their dreams!!
A special thank you to Honorary Co-Chair Wayne
Norman, The Chronicle, Lebanon Life and WILI
Our club is part of Soroptimist International of the
Northeastern Region which totals ten clubs and over
250 members in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New
Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. World
wide, membership in Soroptimist International has
grown to nearly 100,000 women in about 120 countries and territories.
Our Name, Soroptimist, was coined from the Latin "soro" and
"optima" meaning the best for women. Soroptimists are truly women at
their best...professional and executive women of all ages, cultures
and ethnic groups who are known leaders in their fields.
We are making a difference in our local
community and in the world!
Dr. Bernice Szafarek, Past Governor of SIANER, and Joan Merritt,
Membership Chair of SIANER, recently sat down and talked with Marilyn Dayton,
host of a local community TV program, "From this Corner" about our international organization, SOROPTIMIST.
Host Marilyn Dayton says "Towards the end of the
show, you will find yourself wondering "what can I do?" This
organization provides ways to help improve the lives of women and
girls all over the world through programs leading to social and
economic empowerment."
March 13th, 2011 by Cathy Standiford, Past SIA President
Sometimes it takes a personal story to help people move from
disbelief and denial into action. At this weekend’s Women of the
World Conference, actress Ashley Judd shared a personal story
about her friend’s daughter. After an argument with her parents
at the Atlanta airport, the daughter was picked up by a pimp
within one hour, and ultimately disappeared for 5 days.
Fortunately she was found–but what happened during those five days
has changed her life forever.
This is the video of Judd sharing the story
and calling for action:
Ashley Judd: Children Are Not for Sex
