A recent Women’s Giving Fund grant via Inland Empire Community Foundation (IECF) will allow Soroptimist International of Corona to help several local women achieve their educational dreams.
The non-profit businesswomen’s service organization, whose mission is to improve the lives of women and girls, will use the IECF grant for its Live Your Dream program. The annually sponsored program supports single mothers or heads of household to finish their education.
“We want to give these women an opportunity to go back to school, or if they’re in school, to help them finish,” said Barbara Brandt, President of the nonprofit. “The name ‘Soroptimist’ means ‘best for women.’ We want to give them the best opportunities.”
Brandt added that the main award winner this year is a single mother of four who has been striving to complete her studies.
“We felt her need was more than anyone else’s,” she said. “But we don’t use the whole grant for one person. We choose three or four women that we feel are deserving and spread it out so they can all have a chance.”
Launched locally in 1947, Soroptimist International of Corona is part of an international organization that has more than 90,000 members working within their own communities and across the globe. Its signature service project, Dreams and Decisions, has garnered attention for offering intermediate schoolgirls opportunities mentorship, self-esteem building, and education to help prevent teen pregnancy.
Another program, Dream It, Believe It, Achieve It, is career-based and designed for high school girls. A scholarship program and the Live Your Dream award also filter into this eclectic mix.
“What I love is empowering women who wouldn’t have a chance otherwise,” Brandt said of the work. “I also love the camaraderie among our members; it’s just a wonderful team of ladies that work together to help others.”
She noted the success of a life skills training program in Riverside and how big drives for toiletries and nice clothing have helped women get back into the workforce at no cost to them.
“We work with Working Wardrobe, a national organization that enables clients to regain their self-confidence and take charge of their futures,” Brandt said. “I myself started donating to it 15 years ago in Orange County.”
On the horizon: In January 2026, the nonprofit will highlight a human trafficking intervention program at Norco College.
“We’re striving to be better each year,” Brandt said, noting the financial challenges that befall any given year. “It’s become more difficult because you know, people are on a budget, but we try. We just sponsored a huge drive for clothing and other accessories, and we’re offering more educational suggestions and lucky for us, the president of Norco College is one of our members.”
Brandt added that the nonprofit works in conjunction with the college to sponsor programs that benefit girls at the college level.
“There’s no age limit,” she said. “So, we’ve progressed a lot from when I joined the organization eight years ago. And I think we’re building on that to create new programs and offer more help for these women.”
Membership options abound. Women who believe in making the world a better place for women and girls are encouraged to step forward.
Learn more at sic.clubexpress.com.
This story originally appeared in the Press Enterprise, May 2025.
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