SOROPTIMIST GRANTS $20,000 TO HELP FAMILIES DISPLACED BY FLOODS IN CEDAR RAPIDS

December 10, 2008
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 Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to help meet the needs of women and their families displaced by recent floods.

Floods of monumental proportions struck the Cedar River in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, displacing 25,000 people and flooding 1,300 square blocks of the city. One of the hardest hit areas was the Waypoint Madge Phillips Center, a shelter for homeless women and their children, which offers access to basic needs including laundry facilities, bedrooms and a kitchen. The shelter also provides 24-hour guest and day client assistance in achieving self-sufficiency and economic independence. Prior to the flood, a fully finished basement contained a classroom, library for children and a clothing distribution center. However, rising waters resulted in six feet of water in the basement, damaging three sets of commercial grade washers and dryers. With the grant, Soroptimist International of Cedar Rapids will work with the Waypoint Madge Phillips Center to renovate and restore the basement and laundry facilities.

According to Soroptimist Cedar Rapids and Marion club president, Karen Vlasek, “The laundry facility draws clients and provides a gateway to other services our staff can offer these women. The opportunity to have an affordable place to do laundry opens the door to a safe, caring, learning environment. It is a key element in the shelter’s programming and it is critical that the service is restored as soon as possible.”

“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 president, Alice Wells. “Soroptimist's disaster recovery grants mitigate the barriers facing women and girls during disasters, making it easier for them to get the resources they need to survive.”

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. Soroptimist has long been concerned about the disproportionate effects of disasters on women and girls. In addition to providing the Disaster Recovery Grants, Soroptimist recently funded a research study conducted by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR), titled “Women in the Wake of the Storm: Examining the Post-Katrina Realities of the Women of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast,” which is available at: <http://www.soroptimist.org/whatwedo/programs.html#DisasterReliefFund>. The study found that women faced and continue to confront special challenges to their health, safety, and economic wellbeing in the lingering aftermath of hurricane Katrina; that women were at an increased risk of exposure to sexual assault and domestic violence; and that they encounter greater economic hurdles when rebuilding their lives.

Headquartered in Philadelphia, Pa., Soroptimist is an international volunteer women’s organization offering programs that improve social and economic conditions for women and girls. 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 how Soroptimist improves the lives of women and girls, visit <Soroptimist.org>.

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