Our most exciting Hallowine yet!

Our 10th Annual Hallowine was an unprecedented success and we're all still a little giddy!  On October 18th we were proud to host 250 guests from our community at the Swinomish Lodge Ballroom for a little wine, food and merriment and a super exciting auction.

We're delighted to say that our guests were generous to a fault and were happy to "raise the paddle" to the tune of $8800 for the Early Childhood Education program in Anacortes. This money will fund scholarships to allow families in need to send their kids to preschool. All other money raised will contribute to club operation and fund our other scholarships and projects, including the Live Your Dream Award and anti-trafficking education in cooperation with the Skagit County Coalition Against Trafficking.

We wish to offer our heartfelt thanks for the generosity of all our guests and sponsors. Thanks to all of you for helping to make this community and event AMAZING!

Live Your Dream Awards

The Soroptimist Live Your Dream Awards (formerly the Women’s Opportunity Awards) assists women who provide the primary source of financial support for their families by giving them the resources they need to improve their education, skills and employment prospects.

Each year, more than $1.6 million in education grants are awarded to more than 1,200 women, many of whom have overcome enormous obstacles including poverty, domestic violence and/or drug and alcohol abuse. Live Your Dream Awards recipients may use the cash award to offset any costs associated with their efforts to attain higher education, such as books, childcare, tuition and transportation.

In addition to providing the primary financial support for their families, eligible applicants must be enrolled in, or have been accepted to, a vocational/skills training program or an undergraduate degree program and must demonstrate financial need. Also, please note only residents of Soroptimist International of the Americas’ member countries and territories are eligible to apply for the educational grants.

The Live Your Dream Awards involves three levels of cash awards. The program begins at the local Soroptimist club-level, where award amounts vary. Local-level award recipients become eligible for region-level awards of either $3,000 or $5,000. Region-level award recipients then become eligible to receive one of three international-level awards of $10,000.

Since the Live Your Dream Awards program began in 1972, about $30 million in education grants have been disbursed to assist tens of thousands of women achieve their dreams of a better life for themselves and their families. In 2007, the program received the Associations Advance America Summit Award—ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership's highest level of recognition.

Interested in applying for the Live Your Dream Awards?  Click here for the application and here for the reference forms.  All applications are due no later than November 15th.

The 10th Annual Hallowine Auction and Wine Tasting

It's that time again! Soroptimist International of Fidalgo Island is proud to present our 10th annual Hallowine Auction and Wine Tasting - October 18th, 6 PM, at the Swinomish Lodge Ballroom. Every year it just gets bigger and better - with a fun ongoing silent auction, delicious hors d'oeuvres, fabulous wines courtesy of The Store Grocery and a spirited live auction hosted by the delightful Mr. Patrick Grant!


This is our one and only fundraiser and all proceeds fund scholarships and community projects. Tickets are $35 presale and you may reserve a table for eight for $280. Click here to send us an email and order your tickets today!

New Member

Soroptimist International of Fidalgo Island is proud to welcome Kathy Caldwell to our club (pictured with Co-President Marge Thomas.)

Things That We Do... cont.

 Finishing up with our Spring Community Baby Shower by using the monetary contributions for books for the Prenatal Care Center.  Yay!

AND presenting $1262 to the Skagit County Coalition Against Trafficking. The funds will be used to defray start-up costs and to produce a future seminar that will be tentatively scheduled for February. Double Yay!!

The Women of SI Fidalgo Island - We Have Families

I am honored to be a member of SIFI.  It is important to me that all children are provided a healthy foundation with support from the communities that they call home.  I work at City Hall and every afternoon look forward to the bus dropping off kids.  The basement quickly fills with the sounds of rambunctious kids.  I appreciate that we have the Boys and Girls Club in our communities to provide a safe, supportive environment.  I am proud that SIFI is a partner in ensuring the success and financial stability of the Boys and Girls Club."

Emily Schuh - member

The Women of SI Fidalgo Island - We Give Blood

"During the last 28 years of living in Anacortes with my husband and raising our two daughters I have been involved in many kinds of non-profit and volunteer work; some state but mostly local, and mostly related to arts education.  I also play in a recorder quartet, am in a book group, enjoy sewing, gardening & cooking.  Prompted by one of my daughters' battle with and survival of leukemia which entailed the use of countless blood products and a stem cell transplant, I am a regular blood donor and am in the national bone marrow donor bank.

I was raised in a family that valued community service, with my mom a very special and dedicated role model. When our girls got older and moved on to lives on their own, Soroptimist seemed a natural fit for me.  The women of our club are the best - talented, smart, compassionate and energetic.  I have found use for both the business  and non-profit skills gained through my lifetime, especially in helping with the clerical organization of one of our main fundraising events - HalloWine.  It's a joy to work with a bunch of gals who easily choose causes to support, mostly local, but also national and international,  figure out the best ways to raise funds for them,  roll up their sleeves and pitch in until each job is beautifully done.  All to improve the lives of women and girls."

Annette B. Woolsey - member