Soroptimist 16th Annual Area Awards Reception

Leslie Pazskowski

On March 28, 2017, Soroptimists gathered once again to honor the women in our communities who received awards through our signature program of Live Your Dream. Six area clubs representing Anacortes, Burlington, Fidalgo Island, La Conner, Mount Vernon and Sedro-Woolley presented their honorees with roses and certificates at the Swinomish Lodge Banquet room.

We were proud to present our award to Leslie Pazskowski who is pursuing a degree in Civil Engineering.  In addition, SIFI presented Jessie Arroyo-Sanchez with the Violet Richardson Award for a young woman in high school improving the world through volunteering and a Ruby Award to Sue Monaghan and Kristen Phillips, founders of A Simple Gesture. The Ruby Award honors women who have worked for the betterment of women and girls professionally or through volunteer efforts.

The Honorees

The members of Soroptimist International of Fidalgo Island salute all of the winners of these scholarships and awards and commend these women for striving to better themselves, our communities and the world.  Well done.

Newest Women of SI Fidalgo Island

 At our regular meeting on March 18th, we were happy to induct our newest members into SI Fidalgo Island.  Meet Alex Gallardo, mom of our illustrious Violet Richardson Award winner, Karen. (Pictured here with Co-Presidents Marge Thomas and Diane Goetz.)

Carol Olsen also joined our little club, after winning our Ruby Award for outstanding community service with Days for Girls.  Welcome ladies!  We're proud to have you with us!

2014 Award Winners!

SI Fidalgo Island is proud to announce our Award Winners for 2014.

Meet Carol Olsen, Karen Gallardo and Ashley Wade - three amazing women who make our club and community proud!

Ashley Wade (being hugged by member Trish Rodriguez) is the recipient of the Womens Opportunity Award - an award designed to give heads of households the resources they need to improved their education, skills, and employment prospects.  Ashley manages a Cruizin Coffee, as well as attending Skagit Valley College and aiding her disabled mother and hopes to move into a career in health care.

Karen Gallardo received the Violet Richardson Award; named after the president of the first Soroptimist Club, this award honors girls for volunteer service in their community. Karen is a sophomore at Anacortes High School and hopes to be a teacher.  Among her many community services, she is a dedicated volunteer with the Boys and Girls Club who share her award.  (Pictured here with mom Alex and SIFI President, Diane Goetz.)

The Soroptimist Ruby Award honors women who improve and lives of women and girls through their professional and volunteer work.  We are proud to honor Carol Olsen, the Anacortes Chapter Director of Days for Girls International.  This grassroots organization has the ambitious goal of providing sustainable sanitary products; their tagline - Every Girl. Everywhere. Period. Her chapter is responsible for 110,000 hygiene kits that have been sent to 69 countries!

Our hearty congratulations, Ladies!  You ROCK!

Named after the president of the first Soroptimist club, the Soroptimist Violet Richardson Award honors girls who are making a difference through volunteer service. Each year, Soroptimist clubs honor girls who donate their time and energy to causes that make the community and world a better place—such as working to end discrimination and poverty, assisting women and children who are victims of domestic violence, or mentoring young girls.

 The program begins on the Soroptimist club level, with club recipients becoming eligible for additional awards at other levels of the organization. One winner is chosen to receive a finalist award, which includes a contribution of $2,500 to the charitable organization of the recipient's choice.

We're currently gathering suggestions for our 2014 nominee, so if you know of a local girl already on the road to changing the world, we want to know about her!  Send us a note here or call Diane Goetz at 360-424-7627 before December 15th.