Local service organization Soroptimist International of Oakdale is currently accepting applications for its Live Your Dream: Education and Training Awards for Women. Live Your Dream joins Dream It, Be It Career Support for Girls creating the “Soroptimist Dream Programs,” which provide sustainable, measurable change for women and girls, and ensure they have access to the education and training needed to reach their full potential and live their dreams.

Live Your Dream Awards are cash grants provided to women in need who are working to better their lives. The cash grants can be used to offset costs associated with efforts to attain higher education or additional skills and training including tuition, books, childcare, carfare, or any other education-related expenses. Women are eligible if they have the primary financial responsibility for themselves and their dependents. They must also be enrolled in or attending an undergraduate degree program or a vocational skills training program and have financial need. Last year, Soroptimist International of Oakdale awarded cash grants totaling $6,000 to five deserving women.

For more information, call or text Kathy Bauman at (209) 499-5116 or E-mail sioakdale@soroptimist.net. The deadline to apply is Nov. 15, 2020.

Soroptimist International of Oakdale is part of Soroptimist International of the Americas, a cause-related philanthropic federation of clubs improving the lives of women and girls through social and economic empowerment. The Oakdale club joins 1,300 Soroptimist clubs in 21 countries and territories that empower women and girls through volunteer projects such as cash grants for education, hands-on efforts to end domestic violence, career mentoring for girls, women’s health initiatives and many other community-based projects. For more information on how Soroptimist improves the lives of women and girls, visit www.soroptimist.org.