Formally The Women's Opportunity Award, the Live Your Dreams ETA provides women with cash grants to offset costs associated with their efforts to attain higher education and additional training. The ultimate goal of the program is to help women improve their economic status by preparing them to enter or re-enter the workplace. Unlike other award programs, the Live Your Dreams ETA can be used for books, child care, transportation, or any other expense that will help a woman reach her educational goals.
Our club’s participation in the Soroptimist Live Your Dream Awards is a terrific way to make a BIG difference in the lives of women—and their families. Although the awards address economic need and make a difference in a practical way, we know they also affect women in a personal way. Women who have received the award report an increase in self-confidence and self-esteem, and pride for being recognized for having the courage to change their lives.
Every year, more than $2 million in education grants are awarded to nearly 1,500 women, many of whom have overcome enormous obstacles including poverty, domestic violence, and/or drug and alcohol abuse.
https://www.soroptimist.org/our-work/live-your-dream-awards/apply-for-the-live-your-dream-awards.html
Learn more about how Soroptimist is making a collective difference and igniting change for women.
Past Live Your Dream Awardees: Sheanna Carney & Daisy Purcel
2018 Live Your Dream Awardee: Andrea Rhodman
2017 Live Your Dream Awardees Are: Belinda Sanchez and Martha Shabazz
From left to right are: Georgette Guzman, the mother of Hannah Springer, Breanna Corona, Josephine Vaage, Jessica Vaage, Belinda Sanchez, and Martha ShaBazz.
Program Structure
The program begins on the club level, where award amounts vary. Club-level recipients become eligible for additional awards at other levels of the organization. In addition, Soroptimist grants three $10,000 finalist awards each year. Soroptimist disburses nearly $1.5 million annually through this program to help women reclaim their dreams of a better life for themselves and their family. Since 1972, Soroptimist has disbursed about $20 million and helped more than 25,000 women through the Live Your Dreams ETA program.
SI Victor Valley
Participates in this program each year. Applications from local women are accepted each year around October. We arrange for at least three judges to review and select a winner from the applications. SIVV annually awards a winner with $1,000 to help with her educational goals.
Applications can be submitted any time and will be judged each November. Click the link below to download the application, award rules and criteria, and submission information.