Soroptimist Desert Tucson

Our mission as Soroptimists is to improve the lives of women and girls in Tucson through programs leading to social and economic empowerment. Women are economically empowered when they have control over their own finances and wellbeing, and have a voice in the financial decisions that shape their lives and the lives of their families. Women are socially empowered when they have a personal sense of autonomy, self-confidence, and the power to control their private and public lives.

Soroptimist Desert Tucson provides two signature programs.

Our Live Your Dream Awards provide cash grants to single mothers who are supporting their families while continuing their education. Each year we make these awards to women in the Tucson area who have primary financial responsibility for supporting their dependents AND are enrolled in a vocational training program or an undergraduate degree program. In addition, we also provide ongoing support and emergency assistance to our prior winners who are still on their educational path. Since our founding in 1976, we have helped almost 90 women in Tucson meet their educational goals and make better lives for themselves and their families through our Live Your Dream Awards and its predecessor programs.

Our Dream It, Be It program is a curriculum-based program for high-school girls designed to prepares girls for success by giving them access to professional role models, career education and the resources to live their dreams. We believe in the power of girls to change the world but we know that they also need the direction and skills to help make those dreams a reality.

Soroptimist Desert Tucson is part of Soroptimist International, a global non-profit organization of about 75,000 women volunteers making Dreams possible in more than 120 countries around the world. The name, Soroptimist, means best for women, and that's what the organization strives to achieve. Soroptimists are women at their best, working to help other women to be their best.