by Elka Worner and Blake Burrell
For the past 70 years, the Manhattan Beach Soroptimists have mentored high school girls, provided grants to single moms, and made charitable contributions ranging from breast cancer comfort bags to sanitary kits for girls in Africa.
The local club, founded in 1953 by professional women – doctors, lawyers, teachers, and business owners – has carried on their mission of empowering women and girls by focusing on education.
“Women are a marginalized group,” said Soroptimist District Director Janice Kurihara during Saturday’s 70th anniversary celebration at R10 Social House in King Harbor. “We have always been trying to claw our way up.”
Soroptimist President Angela Jones said the group had raised $17,000 for grants this year. Their “Live Your Dream” program awards money to women attending trade schools and college. There are no restrictions on the funds. They can be used for anything from hiring a babysitter to buying books.
USC student Arlette Irrazabal, a single mother of two, received a $3,500 Soroptimist grant to pursue an engineering degree. She used the money for college applications and to buy a computer and a calculator.
“I always had imposter syndrome, and felt that I wasn’t good enough,” Irrazabal said. “The Soroptimists gave me the confidence to get my degree and better my life for my daughters.”
The former Harbor College student said she wants to study industrial and system engineering to help manage food supply chains during natural disasters.
“All of us need that boost of self-esteem. I don’t care how old you are or what profession you’re in, everybody needs that support system,” said incoming president Monica Frey, whose family taught her the importance of giving back. Her grandparents, Joe and Marie Diaz, helped found the Hermosa Beach Sister City Program. While attending Mira Costa, Frey was a member of the S Club, a service club that now partners with the Soroptimists to make breast cancer comfort bags.
Many of the Soroptimists also serve as role models for high school girls in the South Bay through their one-day workshop called “Dream It, Be It.” The women help the girls create dream boards with their career and educational aspirations.
“We teach them how to overcome obstacles and handle stress,” Kurihara said of the program, which includes students from Leuzinger and Carson high schools, as well as Mira Costa.
Their service programs extend beyond the South Bay. Members sew reusable feminine hygiene pads for girls in Africa who are unable to attend school during their menstrual cycles.
Teresa Anaya, who worked in finance at Boeing, said she sews about 200 pads a month.
“They don’t go to school for five days while they’re having their menstrual period, so they lose time in school and fall behind,” Anaya said.
Michele Memmott, of Manhattan Beach, said she likes doing hands-on projects such as sewing and helping women and girls in other countries.
“In a town like Manhattan Beach nearly everyone is doing well. There are lots of people in the world who are not,” Memmott said.
The ceremony included the installation of new officers who donned rose colored glasses “to enter the new year with optimism,” Frey explained.
“I find it an honor to be in a position to help women and girls achieve their potential,” Frey said.
The crowd at Saturday’s function included several men, known as “Soropti-dudes.”
Manhattan Beach Councilmember Joe Franklin said he was a big supporter of the local service organization.
“What the Soroptimists give to the community is hope,” he said. “It’s really important to have that continuum from high school to higher education. Soroptimists give them that opportunity.” ER
