Raleigh Soroptimists to Confer Awards for Women

RALEIGH, N.C. - March 13, 2013 - PRLog -- Raleigh Soroptimists to Confer Awards for Women
Soroptimist International of Raleigh, NC will host its annual Triangle Women of Distinction Awards celebration on April 18. A keynote presentation by Mary Cantando, founder of The Woman’s Advantage, will follow a reception and silent auction. Five area women, including Ashley Hayes, founder of Shepherd Youth Ranch, will be honored.

Raleigh, NC, March 13, 2013 Three Soroptimist awards will be presented by Soroptimist International of Raleigh, NC at its Triangle Women of Distinction Awards event on April 18. The event will be from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at North Hills Club, 4824 Yadkin Drive, in Raleigh. It is open to the public and includes a reception and silent auction. Mary Cantando, founder of The Woman’s Advantage, will inspire attendees as she addresses this year’s theme, “Ordinary Women, Extraordinary IMPACT!” Caitlin Knute, co-anchor of the ABC 11 Eyewitness News weekend morning newscasts, will preside as Mistress of Ceremonies.      

Local Soroptimist President Terri Craig states, “This event is an important part of our program in Raleigh and the collective impact made by Soroptimists around the world. We are proud to present awards which provide financial resources to our recipients and contributions to other non-profit organizations. We rely on this annual celebration to honor the recipients, increase awareness of our program, and raise funds for service projects that improve the lives of women.”

The awards include: Soroptimist’s signature Women’s Opportunity Award which helps a woman with a family to support improve her economic status through education and training; the Violet Richardson Award which recognizes a young woman between ages 14 and 17 for her exemplary volunteer efforts; and the Soroptimist Ruby Award: For Women Helping Women which honors a woman in the community who has made an extraordinary difference for women through her professional or personal activities.

This year, the Soroptimist Ruby Award: For Women Helping Women will recognize Ashley Hayes, founder of Shepherd Youth Ranch (SYR). A $500 donation will be made to SYR in her honor. Hayes founded SYR in October of 2004 after meeting two youth in need who were visiting the stables where she was boarding her first horse. Over the following six years, SYR received state grants to provide many types of services including youth and family therapy, parenting, interpersonal skill building and substance abuse therapy for youth.  SYR serves over 300 people each year.

Kristen Chung of Cary, NC, will receive the Violet Richardson Award for her work with Wags 4 Tags, a non-profit organization whose goals is to help veterans returning from war who are afflicted with psychological injuries such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Chung will receive $750 and Wags 4 Tags will be given $250 in her honor.

The Women’s Opportunity Award will be presented to Patricia Drum, a single parent who has faced long-term unemployment and unstable housing due to the economic downturn’s impact on the shipping industry. The $2,000 unrestricted grant will help her pursue her dream of becoming a pastry chef through the associate’s program at The Chef’s Academy. Two runners-up, Tanisha Dildy and Sherry Wiggins, will each receive $500.

Local recipients of these awards are also considered for further recognition at higher levels of the Soroptimist International organization. Soroptimist International of Raleigh, NC has awarded over $26,000 through its awards program since 2005. More information about the event and the organization is available at their website, www.soroptimistraleigh.org, or by calling Soroptimist at 919-386-9910.

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Soroptimist International of Raleigh, NC – Serving Triangle Area Women since 1987

Soroptimist is an international volunteer organization for business and professional women. The name, Soroptimist, means "Best for Women." The mission of Soroptimist is to improve the lives of women and girls in local communities and throughout the world.  Soroptimist International of Raleigh, NC is a 501(c)(3) organization solely run by volunteers, and relies on charitable donations to support its programs. www.soroptimistraleigh.org (http://www.siraleigh.org/)