Hallowine 2015!

Every year it just gets bigger and better!

Soroptimist International of Fidalgo Island is proud to present our 11th annual Hallowine Auction and Wine Tasting - October 17th  at the Swinomish Casino and Lodge Ballroom.  Doors open at 5:30 for 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 $40 presale, $45 at the door and you may reserve a table for eight for $320. Click here to send us an email and order your tickets today!

The Women of SI Fidalgo Island - We Teach Our Children

My name is Trish Rodriguez and I was one of the charter members of  SIFI and a former member of SI Anacortes before that.  When people ask me why I choose to be a Soroptimist, so many good reasons come to mind. But none would be more important than the lovely young woman that stands with me among the tulips in this photo.  That beauty is my daughter, Amanda.  I was blessed with the care and feeding of two great kids; a responsibility I've rarely felt up to.  I wanted to teach them two things most of all - that they were loved and that happiness only comes in showing love to others.

Here's another picture of Amanda, taken this week in Haiti.  She is participating in travel with a purpose, volunteering a vacation with the Foundation for International Medical Relief of Children. In this photo she is taking vital signs for a diabetes clinic. Words will never be able to express the fierce pride I feel as she emails me these photos, and the deep feeling that wow, did I do something right.  If belonging to a service club has demonstrated to my kids that giving back is the rent we pay to live in a country where we have so much, it is worth all the dues, all the efforts, all the time I was never really sure I had.

Being a Soroptimist has given far more to me than I'll ever be able to give back.

Area Meeting

The 2015 Area Meeting will take place Saturday, February 21 at Maple Center in La Conner, the corner of 1st and Commercial, from 10 AM to 3 PM. Our area includes clubs from Anacortes, Burlington, Coupleville, Everett, Fidalgo Island, Friday Harbor, La Conner, Marysville, Mount Vernon, Oak Harbor, Sedro-Woolley and South Whidbey.

Join us for a day "Blooming with Possibilities" for learning, friendship, fun and shopping.  Registration deadline is Feb. 9.

Early Childhood Education

Co-Presidents Marge Thomas and Diane Goetz were happy to present Mark Wenzel, Anacortes School District Superintendent,  with a check for $8850 this month courtesy of our Hallowine fundraiser. Guests at the event  were asked to  Raise the Paddle  to provide scholarships for needy families to enroll children in preschool programs.

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!