On the Town: Glendale Soroptimist distributes funds to charities
Soroptimist International of Glendale made its annual distribution of funds to local organizations during its Service Grants Luncheon last month.
Members work together on projects and fundraising efforts throughout the year to support the Soroptimist mission to improve the lives of women and girls through programs leading to social and economic empowerment.
All grant recipients will use the funds to benefit women and girls.
Join the conversation on Facebook >>
The Ark Family Center will put its grant toward providing 15 girls ages 14 to 17 with the opportunity to attend the eight-week Create Freedom and Awareness Training Workshop. Girls are introduced to techniques for building their emotional intelligence, empathy and character.
Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services will train female teens to have proper information about issues that affect young women, instruct them in ways to detect problems in their peers and empower them to intervene in a safe, supportive way to lead those girls to help. Topics will include suicide prevention, prevention of exploitation and healthy body image.
A donation to the Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles was done in partnership with Soroptimist International clubs in the Los Angeles area. The Glendale Unified School District received a donation to help produce the elementary and middle schools’ spelling bee programs.
Hillsides received a grant to support young women in the Youth Moving On Workforce Development program, which provides housing assistance, job training, internships, transportation assistance and supportive services for former foster teens.
Funds donated to Taking the Reins will pay for expenses for its equestrian program, Urban Farm, Seed-to-Skillet and organic gardening projects.
Members also did a hands-on project for Days for Girls, an international organization that provides reusable feminine hygiene supplies to girls around the world so that they can attend school during their menstrual cycle.
In addition, significant donations were made in June to the breast cancer programs at the three local hospitals — Dignity Health Glendale Memorial Hospital, Glendale Adventist Medical Center and USC Verdugo Hills Hospital. A portion also goes to Soroptimist International of the Americas for international projects.
The Glendale Soroptimist club raises funds through its annual “Bras for a Cause” dinner. The 14th annual event will be held on April 29 at the Oakmont Country Club. The theme will be “Embrace the Goddess in You.”
For an application to enter a decorated bra in the competition, visit soroptimistglendale.com.
Auditions slated for vocal scholarships
Verdugo Hills Women’s Chorus and Burbank Singers, nonprofit philanthropic choruses, are conducting auditions for three $2,000 scholarships to be presented at the 48th annual California Women’s Chorus Inc. concert on April 30 at the Glendale Hilton Hotel.
Students ages 18 to 24, who are in college or studying with private instructors, have until Jan. 30 to submit applications. Only 25 students will be chosen to audition on Feb. 25. Applications and rules as well as concert tickets, can be found at cwchorus.com.
Funds raised throughout the year go to vocal scholarships.
The California Women’s Chorus Inc. is made up of 10 women’s choruses. They will gather for their convention two days before the concert and then perform together at the concert.
Sharon Schlarb of Pasadena and Diana Tyson of La Crescenta are concert music committee co-chairs for the concert titled “California Dreamin.’” Schlarb has been director of the Verdugo Hills Women’s Chorus since 1991, and Tyson is not only the director of the Burbank Singers but also the accompanist for the women’s chorus.
Lauren Buckley-Schaer has been selected as the director for the combined chorus. While attending Princeton University, she was assistant conductor of the glee club and music director of the Katzenjammers, an a cappella group specializing in classical repertoire and vocal jazz.
She earned a post-graduate diploma in choral direction from the Royal Academy of Music in London and her doctorate in choral conducting at USC Thornton School of Music. She has been music director of the Ebell Chorale, artistic director of the Hollywood Master Chorale and associate director of the Pasadena Master Chorale.
Naomi Sumitani will be the accompanist for the concert. She attended USC Thornton School of Music, earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in piano performance and a doctorate degree in keyboard collaborative arts. She specializes in performing with musicians throughout the Los Angeles area and teaching music at Peninsula Montessori School.
--
JOYCE RUDOLPH can be reached at rudolphjoyce10@gmail.com.