NEWS RELEASE: Soroptimist Donates $10,000 to Support Immediate Disaster Relief Efforts in Haiti

International women's organization contributes recovery funds to assist women and girls affected by the devastating earthquake.

January 14, 2010
Contacts: Jessica Levinson, Communications Director, 215-893-9000 x129

PHILADELPHIA, Pa.—Soroptimist International of the Americas joins the world community in expressing shock and concern about the situation in Haiti. The devastation caused by the earthquake—in an already extremely poor country—is horrific. Tens of thousands of people are dead, and more than 1/3 of Haiti’s citizens are now homeless.
 
Because Haiti is part of Soroptimist’s European federation, Soroptimist International of the Americas has made a donation of $10,000 to Soroptimist International of Europe to support immediate disaster relief efforts for women and girls.
 
SIA knows from experience that women and girls will be disproportionately vulnerable to the effects because of existing gender inequalities that are magnified during and following any disaster. To that end, Soroptimist International of the Americas maintains a Disaster Recovery Fund to provide for projects ensuring that women and girls have the support and resources necessary to rebuild their lives and their communities.

Concerned Soroptimists and other individuals are urged to contribute to the Disaster Recovery Fund to replenish the initial donation and to fund future projects to help women and girls in Haiti recover from this disaster.

Donations can be sent to Soroptimist International of the Americas headquarters, earmarked “disaster recovery.” Members may contribute securely by clicking here. Look for the “disaster recovery” donation line, and indicate "Haiti Disaster Recovery" in the notes section. 

Non-members can contribute by clicking here and selecting “general programs” from the drop-down menu. Specify "Haiti Disaster Recovery" in the comments section. 
 
For updates on what is happening from the Soroptimist perspective, visit Soroptimist International of Europe’s website at www.soroptimisteurope.org. Updates are being posted regularly. For more information about women and disaster, please read Soroptimist International of the Americas’ white paper: “Reaching Out to Women When Disaster Strikes.”

Headquartered in Philadelphia, Pa., Soroptimist offers programs that improve the lives of women and girls through three distinct platforms: economic empowerment, elimination of violence, and gender equality. Its major program, the Soroptimist Women’s Opportunity Awards, provides cash grants for women seeking to improve their lives with the help of additional education and training. Each year, more than $1 million is disbursed to deserving women through this award-winning program. Soroptimist, a 501(c)(3) organization that relies on charitable donations to support its programs, also sponsors the Live Your Dream campaign in recognition of the power of women and their dreams. Visit the campaign’s online home at: LiveYourDreamCampaign.org. For more information on Soroptimist, visit Soroptimist.org.

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