For the Reporter

The Soroptimist International of Kent service club is taking applications for the Women’s Opportunity Award.

Soroptimist International’s primary focus is to help women and girls improve their lives in areas of education and home life. Besides this award, other Kent service projects include the eighth annual Cold Weather Coat and Clothing Drive for Homeless Children, community cash awards and services to local organizations such as the YWCA, DAWN, Kent Food Bank and others.

The award program gives women, who are the head of their households and providing the primary income for the home, a chance at achieving their educational goals.

The cash award gives women the resources they need to improve their skills and employment prospects. Women who are in college for vocational or skills training programs are encouraged to apply. Eligible applicants must be women who provide the primary financial support for their families and who are enrolled in or have been accepted to a vocational/skills training program or an undergraduate degree program.

The award program involves three levels of cash awards. The program begins at the local Soroptimist club level, where the award amount is $1,500. Local level award recipients become eligible for region level awards and then become eligible to receive one of three international level awards of $10,000.

Each year, education grants are awarded to more than 1,000 women, many of whom have overcome enormous obstacles including poverty, domestic violence and/or drug and alcohol abuse.

Since the Women’s Opportunity Awards program began in 1972, about $30 million in education grants have been disbursed to assist tens of thousands of women achieve their dreams of a better life for themselves and their families. Women’s Opportunity Award recipients may use the cash award to offset any costs associated with their efforts to attain higher education, such as books, childcare, tuition and transportation.

To apply for the award, contact Soroptimist International of Kent member Amy Khela at amenpreetkhela@yahoo.com for an online application. The deadline for the award nominees is Dec. 15.