Welcome to
Farmington Valley Soroptimist Club

We are a global volunteer organization working to improve the lives of women and girls through programs leading to social and economic empowerment.

Email Address:
sifarmingtonvalley@soroptimist.net

Club Officers:

Committee Chairs:

Awards:
Live Your Dream Award
The Soroptimist International Live Your Dream 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. 

This year’s application for a financial award is due by November 15, 2018.  Applicants need to download and complete the Eligibility form, the application and the reference form for two (2) references. The Eligibility form needs to be completed first to make sure your applicant will qualify for this award. We encourage applicants to submit well before the deadline.

The best and easiest way to apply is on the SIA Website through the application portal at this link:   http://bit.ly/LYDA-apply 

In recent years, our club, Soroptimist International of Farmington Valley, received many applications. We had one winner who received the $3,000 award AND other applications were forwarded to other regional clubs for consideration. Three women won the award at the other clubs, for various amounts. Additionally all the winners are considered for the regional and national award levels. 

Our club’s winner will be notified in January, 2019.  

More information about this award and program is available at Live Your Dream.

If you have any questions or if your applicant needs guidance in completing the Eligibility form or application, please contact Amina Weiland.

Fundraisers:

Suds for Sisters
A Toast to Women!
Sip and Paint

Membership:
Do you live in the Farmington Valley and want to learn more about our club? Then contact us! We'd love to have you as a guest at an upcoming meeting or event!  

Membership Chair: Michele Jenks

Service Projects:
Grace Academy, Hartford, CT ~
http://www.graceacademyhartford.org

Grace Academy is an independent school dedicated to providing a quality, tuition-free education to girls of all faiths from low-income families residing in Hartford’s inner city neighborhoods.  Since opening in September 2010, SIFV has provided financial, in-kind and service assistance to the school.  SIFV members provide workshops and help organize clubs for the girls to participate in.  We find this to be personally gratifying and the organization greatly appreciates our assistance.

Prudence Crandall Center (PCC), New Britain, CT ~
http://www.prudencecrandall.org/

Over the last few years, SIFV has assisted PCC, the oldest domestic violence program in the State of Connecticut, in several ways:

• In 2009, received a $7,000 Soroptimist Club Grant for Women and Girls from SIA Federation to help support its "SIFV & PCC Partners to Eradicate Domestic Violence" project. SIFV was able to purchase beds, bedding, linens, etc. to outfit the new Emergency Shelter.

     

• In 2010, received a $2,500 Soroptimist Club Grant for Women and Girls from SIA Federation to help support its "Welcome to a New Hope...a New Beginning" project. With these funds, the club purchased items for, assembled and delivered "welcome" kits containing personal care/hygiene items for women and infants arriving to PCC's Emergency Shelter without these necessary items.
  
      

   

• In 2011, received a $500 Janet Pfeiler Advancing the Status of Women club award from the Northeastern Region to help support its "Helping Young Hearts Heal" project. With these funds, the club purchased items such as paint/paint supplies, tables/chairs, bookcases and other supplies to help establish a Child Resource Center at PCC's Rose Hill facility. This resource center created a bright, safe place to aid PCC's child population in its healing process.

           
  SIFV member Tracy Scala with representatives from Prudence Crandall Center in the Child Resource Room

• In the Spring 2012, received a product grant of $500 from "4imprint" (www.4imprint.com) for hand sanitizers and re-usable grocery bags for welcome kits. This donation allowed the club to donate over 120 kits in 2012 as well as in 2013.

           
  Products donated by "4imprint" through its "one by one" program – include hand sanitizer and bag with "S" logo

           
           Infant Welcome Kit Contents                      Adult Female Welcome Kit Contents

  
  SIFV members Linda Terry, Eileen Moskey and Marilee Porter assembling welcome kits

• In July 2012, received a $750 Janet Pfeiler Advancing the Status of Women club award from the Northeastern Region to help support its "Welcome to a New Hope...a New Beginning" project (see previous information).

      
  March 2013 – SIFV members sit in a "sea of blue" welcome kits for Prudence Crandall Center

  Also in July 2012, received a $7,000 Soroptimist Club Grant for Women and Girls from SIA Federation to help support its "Helping Teen Hearts Heal" project. SIFV was able to purchase furniture, a large TV, home theater system, computer workstations and other items to create a teen room at Prudence Crandall Center in order for these victims to have a place for counseling sessions, to complete homework and to have supervised movie/game nights.

  
  SIFV members Tracy Scala, Joan Hofmann & Eileen Moskey on a site visit to the PCC Teen Resource Room.
   

      
  
      
  Photos of the PCC Teen Resource Room – furniture, TV, computer workstations purchased

  In October 2012, our club was honored to receive the PCC "Impact" award at its annual meeting. Members were there to receive the award on behalf of the club. Senator Richard Blumenthal also honored the club with a special citation from his office for its work with Prudence Crandall Center.

      
  Awards given to SIFV for its philanthropic work with Prudence Crandall Center

  
  SIFV members receive the PCC Impact Award –
   Left to right: Lydia Tedone, Joan Hofmann, Eileen Moskey & Tracy Scala

• In Summer of 2013, again received a $500 product grant from "4imprint" (www.4imprint.com) for re-usable grocery shopping bags with the Soroptimist "S" logo and "Best for Women" tagline for PCC welcome kits. This donation will allow the club to continue this project of donating kits in 2013 and 2014.
• Since 2014, SIFV has donated over $20,000 in funds raised from its "A Toast to Women!" wine/chocolate event to Prudence Crandall Center!
• Ongoing - financially via proceeds from our fundraisers and through procured grants.

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Chartered Nov. 17, 2004

Meeting Date/Times:
Second Wednesday of each month
except on holidays.
6:00pm to 8:30pm

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Download or view our
Club Brochure
(PDF Document)

Download or view our
Prospective Member Form
(Word Document)

Watch this video from
Soroptimist member
Kathy McAfee

A Toast to Women!
Friday, Nov. 2, 2018
Avon Old Farms Hotel