The document summarizes an upcoming event hosted by Soroptimist International Southwest Washington to honor three local women on International Women's Day: 1) Mandy Lathim will receive the Violet Richardson Award for her volunteer work helping disadvantaged girls. 2) Tami Sayles, a domestic violence survivor and single mother of three, will receive the Women's Opportunity Award as she works to improve her education and career. 3) Mary Blanchette, executive director of the local Children's Justice Center, will receive the Soroptimist Ruby Award for her work advocating for children and holding abusers accountable.

1. An International
Women’s Day Event
Thursday, March
Presented by:
8, 2012
Soroptimist International Southwest Washington
www.sisouthwestwashington.org
Emcee: Alexis Del Cid, Koin Local 6

2.  Soroptimist is an international organization for business and professional
women who work to improve the lives of women and girls, in local
communities and throughout the world. Almost 95,000 Soroptimists in
about 124 countries and territories contribute time and financial support
to community–based and international projects that benefit women and
girls. The name, Soroptimist, means “best for women,” and that’s what
the organization strives to achieve. Soroptimists are women at their
best, working to help other women to be their best.
 SI Southwest Washington chartered January 1996. Our club members
live in the greater Vancouver area including Camas, Ridgefield, Yacolt
and even Kalama, WA. We are one of two clubs in Clark County – our
main distinction is that we have just one formal meeting each month.
We spend most of our time together working on projects and hosting
fundraising events so we can put our money and efforts back into the
Clark County communities we serve!

3. Sponsored by
Emcee: Alexis Del Cid, Koin Local 6

4. The Soroptimist Violet Richardson Award
is a recognition program for young
women ages 14-17 engaged in volunteer
action within their communities or
schools. The award is given to young
women whose activities make the
community and world a better place.

5. LOCAL TEEN TO BE HONORED FOR MAKING
CLARK COUNTY THE BEST FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS!
Vancouver, WA -Soroptimist is concerned with the special challenges facing today’s girls and
young women. The organization launched the Violet Richardson Award program in 2000 as a
way to recognize girls for their volunteer service to their communities. The program honors
young women between the ages of 14 and 17 whose volunteer efforts include: helping other
disadvantaged girls; fighting drugs, crime and violence; cleaning up the environment; and
working to end discrimination and poverty.
Mandy Zoe Lathim, a 17 year old Vancouver teen is a volunteer with the Share House of
Vancouver, in the ASPIRE program and is this year’s Violet Richardson Award Honoree!
Soroptimist International of Southwest Washington will honor Lathim with the Award on
March 8, 2012 during the Women’s International Day “Best for Women Awards” Reception
sponsored by Soroptimist International Southwest Washington and the YWCA Clark County.
The Best for Women Awards is open to the public and there is no cost to attend.
To register go to www.bestforwomen2012.eventbrite.com. For more information on
Soroptimist visit www.sisouthwestwashington.org
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6. The Women’s Opportunity Awards program was
established in 1972 to assist women with primary
financial responsibility for their families to obtain
the skills-training and education necessary to
improve their employment status and standard of
living for themselves and their family.
During the 2010-2011 club year, nearly US $2 million
in club, region, and federation funds were awarded
to more than 1,000 women in SIA’s 19 member
countries and territories.
The women receiving these financial awards may
use them for any costs associated with their
educational efforts, including tuition, books, child
care, and transportation.

7. LOCAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVOR MOTHER OF THREE
YOUNG BOYS TO BE HONORED BY SOROPTIMIST!
Vancouver, WA - Tami Sayles, 33, is a single Vancouver mother of three boys (11, 9, and 2). Soroptimist International of
Southwest Washington will honor Sayles with the 2012 Women Opportunity Award on March 8, 2012 during the Women’s
International Day Award Reception sponsored by Soroptimist International Southwest Washington and the YWCA Clark County.
As a young woman in recovery from the devastation of addiction, Sayles knows firsthand the barriers and the challenges for
women. “Poverty, homelessness, and domestic violence become cycles that oppress us,” said Sayles. Sayles after years of
abuse by her ex-husband finally saw the light and decided to do what it takes to get back on her feet in a safe environment for
her and her three boys. Sayles, now a student at Clark College is taking back her life and making a future for her family.
The Best for Women Awards is open to the public and there is no cost to attend. To register go to
www.bestforwomen2012.eventbrite.comFor more information on Soroptimist visit www.sisouthwestwashington.org
###

8. Formerly the Soroptimist Making a Difference for
Women Award, the Soroptimist Ruby Award: For
Women Helping Women recognizes and honors the
first federation president, Ruby Lee Minar.
A ruby is also a deep red gemstone associated with
wisdom, importance, vitality, strength, vivacity, power
and love: all words embodying the strong and
compassionate women who are our award recipients.
The Soroptimist Ruby Award honors women who
have worked to improve the lives of women and girls
through their professional and/or volunteer work.

9. LOCAL CHILDREN’S ADVOCATE IS A RUBY AMONG US AND WILL
BE HONORED FOR MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN CLARK COUNTY!
Vancouver, WA - The Soroptimist Ruby Award will be given to Mary Blanchette, M.A., the executive director of
the Children’s Justice Center in Vancouver, WA. by Soroptimist International of Southwest Washington on March
8, 2012 during the Women’s International Day Award Reception sponsored by Soroptimist International Southwest
Washington and the YWCA Clark County.
Mary directs the work of a talented multidisciplinary team of professional responders who work together to
effectively hold perpetrators of felony-level child abuse accountable, while taking extra care to promote the
support needs of child victims and their non-offending family members. The center is one of only 500 such
accredited Children’s Advocacy Centers in the nation. Last year, the CJC team held 150 perpetrators accountable
through our judicial system to a total confinement sentencing time of over 600 years. CJC’s outcomes help protect
and heal a child victim of crime, but they also enhance the level of safety for all children in our neighborhoods.
Mary Blanchette was the executive director for the Washington State Association of Children’s Advocacy Centers
prior to residing in our community four years ago. She holds over twenty years of experience in the child protection
and human service field. She is now the Vice Chair of the State Children’s Advocacy Center Board, she is the chair of
a State Legislative Committee on child abuse and was recently nominated to attend the seventh annual National
Children’s Alliance Summit to represent all of Washington’s children’s advocacy centers.
Ms. Blanchette has held many meaningful positions in her career. Beginning long ago as a social worker in foster
care, she rose to a position as Senior Manager overseeing a regional Child Welfare Service program. She’s also been
a Mayor’s Human Service Policy Advisor, a Safe Schools Manger for the Office of Education, an instructor for the
University of California, and a Child Welfare Governor’s Analyst.
Past Ruby Award recipients have included: Jane Velez-Mitchell, host of “Issues” on HLN; domestic violence expert
and advocate Elaine Weiss; former U.S. Congresswomen Patsy Mink and Patricia Schroeder; novelist and former
district attorney Linda Fairstein; Princess Diana; former child actor and U.S. Ambassador Shirley Temple Black;
former Philippines President Corazon Aquino; and marine biologist Dr. Sylvia Earle.
###

10. Soroptimist International Southwest Washington
Invite You To Attend Our
BEST FOR WOMEN AWARDS RECEPTION
THURSDAY, March 8, 2012 ~ 6-8p.m.
Ruby Award Honoree
Mary Blanchette, M.A.
YWCA Clark County
3609 Main Street
Vancouver, WA 98687
The Best for Women Awards celebrate honorees who are improving the lives of
women and girls in our locally community. This year we celebrate these inspiring
women on International Women’s Day to remember how far women have come
and to continue to help pave the way in making sure the future is bright, equal,
safe and rewarding to all women and girls locally and throughout the world!
There is no charge for the event,
Violet Richardson Award Honoree
Mandy Lathim
but reservations are required please RSVP by March 5, 2012 to
To register go to www.bestforwomen2012.eventbrite.com
Sponsored by:
Women’s Opportunity Award Honoree
Tami Sayles

11. Soroptimist International of Southwest Washington
(626) 644-3472 cell/voice
helpingheroes@earthlink.net
www.sisouthwestwashington.org