Five area women have received Live Your Dream awards through Soroptimist International of Oakdale, designed to aid in their continuing education and pursuit of career goals.
“Oakdale is home to remarkable women who have faced difficult circumstances yet continue forward with courage and determination. These women are heroes to Modesto Junior College and Nightingale College – where they attend classes and participate in outreach programs – and, most importantly, to their children, families, and friends as they work toward a better future,” noted Ruth Bright, Live Your Dream Award Committee Chair. “Each of Soroptimist International of Oakdale’s Live Your Dream Award recipients has inspired us with her story, resilience, and motivation.”
Honorees this year included:
Marie Rhodes – $2,000 as she pursues a career in child development;
Viridiana Verduzco – $1,500 toward a degree in psychology;
Julie Silva – $1,500 toward her Bachelor’s degree in nursing;
Corina Sanchez – $1,500 to support her studies in psychology with plans to become a counselor;
Isabel Andrade – $1,500 to obtain her human resources certification.
“Each of these women plans to use her award to continue her education and strengthen her ability to support her family,” Bright explained. “These five women join a long legacy of Live Your Dream Award recipients who have been pursuing their goals with Soroptimist support for more than 50 years.”
The Live Your Dream Award is the signature program of Soroptimist International of the Americas. Soroptimist International of Oakdale is one of nearly 1,300 clubs within this global volunteer organization dedicated to providing women and girls with access to education and training that lead to economic empowerment. The award supports women who are the primary financial providers for their families by helping offset the costs of higher education, including tuition, books, childcare, transportation, and other essential expenses.
“Our top local recipient, Marie Rhodes, will now advance to the Soroptimist Sierra Pacific Region level, where she may receive up to an additional $5,000. Should she be selected at that level, she would then be eligible for an additional $10,000 at the international level,” said Bright.
Each year, the Live Your Dream Award distributes more than $2.8 million in cash grants to women in need. Since its inception in 1972, the program has provided more than $40 million to tens of thousands of women striving to build better lives for themselves and their families. A study by The Fels Institute of Government at the University of Pennsylvania confirmed the program’s impact – improving recipients’ quality of life, strengthening confidence and self‑determination, and inspiring them to help others. These individual successes contribute to stronger communities, nations, and a stronger world.
