SOROPTIMIST GRANTS $20,000 TO WOMEN AFFECTED BY EARTHQUAKE

December 10, 2007
Contact: Kamali Brooks, Public Relations Manager
215-893-9000 x130, kamali@soroptimist.org 

PHILADELPHIA, Pa.—Soroptimist International of the Americas, an international volunteer organization of business and professional women dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls, presented a $20,000 disaster recovery grant to its club in Trujillo, Peru, to help meet the needs of  women displaced by a recent earthquake,

With the grant, Trujillo Soroptimists will provide 500 women and their families with enough food for 10 days.

“As a result of the earthquake, many families were left without food, shelter, or clothes,” said Trujillo Soroptimist club president, Tania de Calderon. “Under these circumstances, it is necessary to alleviate the critical situation by helping women who are responsible for the care of their families.”

Soroptimist’s disaster recovery grants, which range from $1,000 to $20,000, assist women who have been victims of natural disasters or acts of war. Past Soroptimist relief efforts include a $16,000 grant to the Largo Mid-Pinellas County, Florida, club to help Pinellas Village, a housing community for low-income single parents, pay its insurance premiums after a $70,000 increase due to high risk of damage during Florida’s yearly hurricane season. Without the grant, Pinellas Village would have been forced o close, leaving single mothers and their children homeless. Another club in Daet, Philippines, received $4,000 to help meet the needs of women displaced by recent typhoons by providing them with additional food, clothing, shelter, and helping them find jobs.

“Women and girls are particularly vulnerable during disasters. They lack mobility and access to resources, have increased family responsibilities, and are susceptible to physical danger,” said Soroptimist’s executive director, Leigh Wintz. “Soroptimist's disaster recovery program mitigates the barriers facing women and girls during disasters, making it easier for them to get the resources they need to survive.”

Soroptimist, a 501 c (3) organization headquartered in Philadelphia, Pa., offers programs that improve social and economic conditions for women and girls. Programs include the Women’s Opportunity Awards, which provides cash grants for head-of-household women seeking to improve their lives with the help of additional education and training. Each year, more than $1 million is disbursed through this award-winning program. Visit Soroptimist’s website at www.soroptimist.org to learn more about the organization and its work on behalf of the world’s women and girls.

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