For over 80 years, members of Richmond Soroptimist have worked to help women and girls in our community and beyond, while building lifelong friendships and having fun.
We invite you to give us a hand by joining us as an active member, a one-time volunteer, a guest at one of our events or as a donor.
Our group meets on Thursdays at the historic Rockefeller Lodge, 2640 Market Avenue, San Pablo, California. We meet the first four Thursdays each month at noon, from September through June. Lunch is served before the meeting commences. Each month, there is one business meeting. The other meetings include planning for events and enriching, educational programs.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are currently meeting twice monthly, on the first and third Thursdays, on Zoom.
Currently, we hold two fundraisers during the year; the Teddy Bear Tea in November and the Culinary Caper, Chef Show and Wine Tasting in April. The funds raised by these events are distributed to local community groups through a grant application process. In addition, annual awards are given to a woman who is sole support of her family and is furthering her education, a young woman who volunteers in the community and high school graduates who are heading to college.
Soroptimist International of Richmond
Presents our 27th Annual Culinary Caper
Sunday, April 26, 2020
Due to Covid-19, we cancelled this event in March 2020. It was with heavy hearts that we took this action as we knew it would impact our ability to give back to our community, to those groups who could offer much needed assistance to people who are in need.
Our planning for Culinary Caper 27 started in January. We mailed out invitations at the end of February and began to contact sponsors for their support. After notifying our Soroptmist friends of the cancellation, we were honored to be informed by those who had sent in ticket money, donations and sponsorships, that they would donate their money to our fundraising account. We thank everyone from the bottom of our hearts for their generosity. Please know that we will use these funds to give back to our community.
Covid-19 has affected all of us in so many ways. We are greatly appreciative of the support we receive from our Soroptmist friends. We are moving forward under current guidelines to find creative ways to continue to support our community in a changed world.
Over the years our fundraising efforts have allowed us to give grants to local community organizations that help people in need. Some of the groups which have recently received grants from us are: Community Alliance for Learning (Writer Coach Connection), Early Childhood Mental Health, Greater Richmond Interfaith Program (GRIP), Hercules Community Library Foundation, Jelly's Place, Pinole Community Players, San Pablo Committee on Aging, San Pablo GREAT (Gangs, Resistance, Education And Training), San Pablo Watershed Neighbors Education and Restoration (SPAWNERS), The Quinan Street Project, Rosie the Riveter Trust, Ujima Family Recovery Services, West Contra Costa Boys & Girls Club, West County Adult Day/Alzheimer's Respite Care Center.
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In addition to the grants we give out to community groups, there are three individual awards.
VIOLET RICHARDSON AWARD
A teenager (14-18 ) is honored for community service. Both she and the organization with which she is involved are awarded $500 each.
LIVE YOUR DREAM
This $3,000 award given by the SI/Richmond club assists a woman, who has the primary financial responsibility for her family, to obtain the skills, training and education necessary to improve her employment status and standard of living.
HIGH SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIPS
In the spring, we will give one $5,000 scholarship to a local high school graduating senior who will be heading to college.
The pandemic took away our ability to have our usual fundraisers. Last spring, shortly before Culinary Caper would have been held, we sent a letter asking for support from our community of guests and sponsors who had attended in years past. There was a magnanimous outpouring of generosity from our supporter and members.
On November 18, a Zoom meeting was held to present seven local agencies with service grants. The work they do in our community is impressive and inspiring.
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Soroptimist International of Richmond was chartered on March 23, 1939. Our club was sponsored by Soroptimist of Berkeley and led by Charter President Christina Cameron, who was the Assistant Superintendent of Schools. There were 18 charter members. Currently we have 25 members. Our club is part of Founder Region of Soroptimist International of the Americas.