MB Soroptimists celebrate 70 years helping women
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…
Read this story on easyreadernews.com