Soroptimist International of Davis awards $13,000 through their ‘Live Your Dream Awards’ program

Three women from Yolo and Sacramento County were given grants to aid in furthering their education and training

This spring, Soroptimist International of Davis awarded $13,000 in grants to local women as a part of their “Live Your Dream Awards” program. The grantees, three women from Yolo and Sacramento County, received awards ranging from $3,000 to $6,000. This grant program was designed by Soroptimist International to help make higher education more financially accessible for women.

While Soroptimist International of Davis operates as a nonprofit organization centered around helping women in the Davis community, Soroptimist International is much broader, operating as an international service-centered organization focused on helping women. The first chapter was founded in Oakland, Calif. in 1921, a time when women were not commonly permitted to join service organizations. Since then, Soroptimist International has grown exponentially, with five current international federations spawning clubs in around 120 countries — all focused on providing girls and women the resources they need to reach their full potential.

The growth of Soroptimist International led to a Davis chapter being founded in 1954 to focus on providing resources to women in Davis and surrounding communities. Since then, Soroptimist International of Davis has taken on many projects, including the “Live Your Dream Awards” program, to realize their goal of aiding women in bettering their education.

Crystal O’Hara, the president of Soroptimist International of Davis, explained the goal of the organization which inspired the “Live Your Dream Awards” program.

“Soroptimist International's mission is to provide women and girls with access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment,” O’Hara said. “The ‘Live Your Dream Award’ is that mission in action.”

The “Live Your Dream Awards” program, created in 1972, aims to help women on their educational journey. This program differs from other grant programs because it offers flexibility to its grantees by allowing them to spend the funds on any costs associated with furthering their education. Women are able to allocate the funds to costs outside of tuition or program costs such as childcare, transportation costs and more. Soroptimist International encourages women seeking higher education who are suffering financial difficulties to apply.

O’Hara explained who the “Live Your Dream Awards” grants are designed to help.

“The award is given to a woman who is the primary support for their dependents and is working toward some kind of higher education or training,” O’Hara said. “It can be vocational or skills training, community college or an undergraduate education.”

Soroptimist International of Davis specifically provides grants of up to $5,000 per applicant through the “Live Your Dream Awards” program.

While the award may not entirely offset education or program costs, O’Hara explained the impact Soroptimist International of Davis hopes those funds will have.

“We know that the amount of money we are providing in grants is small compared to the cost of education and raising a family,” O’Hara said. “Our hope is that the recipients will also see that we believe in them and are here to support them.”

The program not only provides funds, but also mentorship to women on their higher education journey. Members of Soroptimist International of Davis typically stay in contact with “Live Your Dream Awards” recipients for many years following their application in order to offer mentorship and support in their training and education journey.

Kimberly Berardi, the co-chair of the “Live Your Dream Awards” Committee, explained the impact the Soroptimist International of Davis hopes to have with this program.

“The primary goal is to support women and girls in their efforts to pursue their education and vocational training,” Berardi said. “The recipients have told us that the awards have enabled them to continue in their programs and reduce the stress they experience in meeting their living expenses so they can concentrate on their studies.”

This year, three women were chosen as recipients of the “Live Your Dream Awards” program, each receiving various award amounts to fund their higher education journey. This year’s top recipient, Sineth, is a 39-year-old UC Davis student who received a $6,000 grant to continue her biological psychology studies whilst also raising her teenage son who was diagnosed with autism. With the help of Soroptimist International’s program, Sineth is expected to graduate in Fall 2027.

After graduation, Sineth is interested in working as a child therapist or a pediatric physician’s assistant. She explained her inspiration behind her studies and career path.

“Both fields interest me because they combine science, compassion and the

opportunity to make a direct impact on a child’s life,” Sineth said.

Soroptimist International of Davis hosts several other programs focused on helping women in the community, including their Big Day of Giving, providing supplies to trafficking victims, making and distributing hygiene bags with Empower Yolo for domestic violence victims and more. For more information, visit the Soroptimist International of Davis’ website.

Written By: Gia Loomis — city@theaggie.Wriorg