Soroptimist International of Arbutus participates in a wide range of service programs helping women and girls in our own local community and throughout the world. These programs include "Comfort Caps" in which we distribute hats, free of charge, to women experiencing hair loss due to cancer treatments. Each year we provide cash awards and honors by participating in the Women's Opportunity Award, the major service project of Soroptimist International of the America's. We recognize a young girl, ages 14-17 who is an active volunteer by providing a Violet Richardson Award. Each year we recognize an outstanding woman in the community who is "Making a Difference for Women" in her work and or volunteer activity. Soroptimist International of Arbutus raises funds for the Quadrennial Project of Soroptimist International - Project Independence: Women Survivors of War. Through Project Independence: Women Survivors of War, Soroptimist International and Women for Women International are combining the forces of thousands of individual women to support women survivors of war in Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Rwanda. Over the next four years, Project Independence will raise at least $1.2 million to provide nearly 2,000 women with the skills they need to rebuild their lives after war. COMFORT CAPS Our club's new signature project: "Comfort Caps" was recently launched. On August 11, 2006 we delivered cozy terry turbans and stylish bandanas to the Cancer Center and Oncology Wing of St. Agnes Hospital in Baltimore. Recipients may choose the style and color that they prefer. Each hat has a label identifying Soroptimist International of Arbutus as the provider of the the hat, and the label contains the following Simone Weil quotation: "The love of our neighbor in all its fullness simply means being able to say to him, what are you going through?" Member Caroline Doyle is the Chairperson of the Comfort Caps Comittee. WOMEN'S OPPORTUNITY AWARD The Women's Opportunity Award is given each year at the club level to a woman working to improve the lives of her family by going back to school. The applicant must be enrolled in a vocational/skills training or undergraduate degree program and she must provide the primary financial support for her family and demonstrate financial need. A cash award of up to $500.00 is given at the club level, and the club winner's application is forwarded to the South Atlantic Region for further consideration. Additional awards at the Region level including a top award of $5,000.00, two $3,000.00 awards and one for $1,000.00. The first place Region winner's application is forwarded to Soroptimist International of the Americas, where three $10,000.00 awards are available.Applications are available beginning in September and the deadline for entry is the following Janaury. For additional information or to request an application please email. VIOLET RICHARDSON AWARD The Violet Richardson Award recognizes young women who make the community and the world a better place through volunteer efforts such as: fighting drugs, crime and violence; cleaning up the environment; and working to end discrimination and poverty. Volunteer actions that benefit women or girls are of particular interest. This award is available for young women volunteers between the ages of 14 and 17. A cash award of up to $500.00 is given at the club level, and the club winner's application is forwarded to the South Atlantic Region for further judging. Club winners become eligible for a $1,000.00 award. An additional $1000 is given in her honor to the organization where she is most active as a volunteer. Each region level honoree is eligible for the federation-level award. This honor culminates in one young woman receiving international recognition, the Violet Richardson Award trophy, a personal gift from Soroptimist and $2,500 given in her honor to the organization where she is the most active as a volunteer. Applications or additional information may be requested by email. Applications are available beginning in September and the submission deadline is the following January. MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR WOMEN This award honors women who are making a difference for women in their communities, through personal or professional activities. This program enables the Soroptimist organization and local clubs to publicly thank these women for their efforts and helps to raise awareness of programs that serve the needs of women and girls. The program begins on the club level, where the type of recognition varies. Award winners at the club level are eligible for additional awards at other levels of the organization. The finalist receives a $5,000 donation to the charitable organization of her choice. Nominations are accepted from the public, at the club level, beginning in September and deadline for nominations is December 15. The honoree is feted at the club's annual anniversary banquet and silent auction the following September. To obtain a nomination form or to request additional information, please email.