Soroptimist International of Buena Park held its annual Awards Dinner, Wednesday, April 16, at the Knott’s Berry Farm Resort Hotel, honoring prominent Buena Park citizens.
Honored for service to the community in the follow categories includes:
“Women’s Opportunity Award” – Honoree Michelle Tolliver is the mother to a 4-year-old son; Tolliver attends Orange Coast College with plans to graduate next year with Basic and Advanced Baking Certificates and hopes to work in a four- or five-star restaurant’s bakery.
Soroptimist International of Buena Park held its annual Awards Dinner, Wednesday, April 16, at the Knott’s Berry Farm Resort Hotel, honoring prominent Buena Park citizens.
Honored for service to the community in the follow categories includes:
“Women’s Opportunity Award” – Honoree Michelle Tolliver is the mother to a 4-year-old son; Tolliver attends Orange Coast College with plans to graduate next year with Basic and Advanced Baking Certificates and hopes to work in a four- or five-star restaurant’s bakery.
The Women’s Opportunity Award is for women who are the family’s primary wage earner; it provides cash grants for education and skill training. The recipient is someone who has overcome enormous obstacles in a quest for a better life for themselves and family. The award may be used for tuition, books, child-care, transportation or other education-related expense.
“Violet Richardson Award” Honoree – Mary Howard is an honors student at Rosary High School and plans to attend a four-year university in the fall, majoring in Economics with a minor in English, and then plans to attend law school to specialize in corporate law.
Howard is noted for being a core team member at Joseph’s Kitchen, a organization that bakes bread each week to distribute to the local homeless community through a food bank.
Others honored include Baron Night, Sincerity of Friendship; Sandy Smith, Joy of Achievement; Todd Trout, Dignity of Service; Dawn O’Connor, Integrity of Profession and Buena Park Police Chief Corey Sianez for The Love of Country.
Proceeds from the dinner benefit the community; as Soroptimists contribute to many local non-profit organizations and causes including the Boys and Girls Club, the Speech and Language Development Center, Buena Park Coordinating Council, Buena Park Youth Theater, Megan’s Law, SMART Girls program, shoes and clothing for needy children, senior and day care centers, women survivors of war, necessities for women in transition, plus many educational scholarships.
Soroptimist International of Buena Park is a global organization for women in management and the professions who, through service projects, work to advance human rights and the status of women.
Support for the club’s programs also comes from corporate gifts and sponsorships, which are tax deductible and are acknowledged in the luncheon programs.
