‘Live Your Dream’ and ‘Cyndi Chadwick Scholarship’ awards presented
By Loreen Berlin
In April, Soroptimist International of Buena Park presented annual awards to three young women that included Michel’le Johnson, Jenny Yoo and Amber Bui.
Johnson received the Soroptimists’ “Live Your Dream” award while Bui and Yoo each received the Cyndi Chadwick Youth Volunteer Scholarship, through funds from Soroptimist International of Buena Park and generous donations from Cyndi Chadwick’s three daughters, Alyson del Hierro, Stephanie Maxim and Elizabeth Chadwick, and Cyndi’s brothers and sisters.
The Live Your Dream award is given to a single-mother head of household so she can pursue higher education, which will make her life and the lives of her family better.
Soroptimist International Desert Coast Region Governor Laurel Lanham said, “Education is the pathway to economically empowering women and girls. When women learn, families live healthier lives and when girls go to school, they are more likely to get paying jobs and their financial contributions to their families and their nation increase.”
Lanham continued that when young girls have an educated mother, they themselves are more likely to be enrolled in school and reach higher levels of education.
“When women are educated, their country is more likely to have greater economic growth,” said Lanham.
Buena Park Soroptimist President Katy O’Connell said that since 1972, Soroptimists have been empowering women through the Live Your Dream Award.
O’Connell said that award recipients have typically been women who have overcome enormous obstacles including poverty, domestic violence and drug and alcohol abuse. The Awardees are able to use the award money to offset costs associated with efforts to obtain a higher education or training and it may also be used for books, childcare and/or transportation.
“It’s a step to the future,” said Lanham. “We’re inspired by their resilience, bravery and commitment; first by daring to dream of a better life and then by the passion with which they go after that dream despite the many obstacles, present and past. We are women at our best when we are helping other women to be their best.”
“This year, we would like to recognize the Buena Park Noon Lions Club, whose generous Silverado Days Grant, helped with the Live Your Dream award,” said O’Connell.
The Live Your Dream award is chaired by Soroptimist member Mary Walker.
Recipient Johnson is enrolled at Cerritos Community College, working to obtain her AST in nursing, to become a midwife. She is the mother of a nine-year-old, a seven-year-old and a five-year-old. It is not hard to see that a lot of juggling goes on within these families, in order for them to work, attending higher education classes, study and balance a home life for their family.
Recipients Bui and Yoo are Buena Park High School seniors who each received the Cyndi Chadwick Volunteer Scholarship; they are pursuing college degrees.
Chadwick was a long-time member of Soroptimist International of Buena Park as well as a resident of the city. She graduated from Buena Park High School. Her life was dedicated to her three daughters and to helping others through volunteerism.
In 2000, Chadwick became a member of Soroptimist International of Buena Park and quickly became a leader in the club, helping to empower women and girls in the Buena Park community and throughout the world.
“Cyndi was a role model and an inspiration for everyone who knew her,” said O’Connell. “This year, because of the generosity of Cyndi’s three daughters, Elizabeth, Alyson and Stephanie, and Cyndi’s brothers and sisters, we were able to increase our ability to recognize an additional recipient and honor Cyndi for the work she did for the Buena Park community. Cyndi would be proud to know that through you, her family, Cyndi’s passion for education and volunteerism is continuing on.”
Cyndi Chadwick passed away in October of 2014.
