The Women's Opportunity Award (WOA) is one of Soroptimist International of Camelback's signature programs. This annual cash award, earned through a competitive process, helps women change their lives by providing the resources they need to improve their education, skills and employment prospects. The awardees, who generally are the primary source of financial support for their families, may use the cash award to offset costs associated with efforts to attain higher education, including books, childcare, and transportation. Recipients at the local club level become eligible for additional cash awards at other levels of the organization.

The 2005 recipient of the WOA award presented by Soroptimist International of Camelback, Inc. won a $2,000 cash prize. Rebecca*, age 30, is a single mother with three children all under the age of ten. She left her abusive husband after he molested one of their children. He is currently serving jail time. Rebecca* will graduate in 2007 from Phoenix College with a Registered Nursing Degree. She currently holds a 4.0 grade point average. She has previously been a Licensed Practical Nurse for 12 years to support her family. In addition to going to school and taking care of her children, Rebecca* works 32 hours per week at a local hospital.

Rebecca's* will and determination was tested one particular day after a hard and overwhelming day of work. "I was crying and, at the same time, trying to soothe my daughter because she thought I was mad at her and she looked me straight in the eyes and said, 'Mommy, it is going to be all right. God loves you and is deep in your heart.' I began to calm down and asked God to show me the way and give me the strength to do it. That day, I got home to find that I had received an amazing letter from Soroptimist International of Camelback, telling me that I was the winner of their WOA award." Rebecca* was later invited to Soroptimist International's Golden West Region Spring Conference where she won an additional $8,000 to assist in her educational goals.

Soroptimist International of Camelback, Inc. is a professional women's service organization that helps to improve the lives of women, girls and their families in the local community and throughout the world. The name, Soroptimist, means "best for women," and that is what the organization strives to achieve.

Soroptimist International of Camelback, Inc. raises a majority of its funds through its annual Fashion Fusion Extravaganza, Silent Auction and Luncheon. This exciting event features professional dancers who dance the fashions down the runway. This year's event will take place on November 20, 2005 at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa. The event begins at 11:00 a.m. Sherre's Ladies Fashions, located at the Borgata in Scottsdale, will provide the fashions and the choreography will be done by Hodgie Jo's Imation Dance Studio. All profits from Soroptimist events go directly back into the community and not to operational expenses.

Soroptimist relies on proceeds from this event as well as individual and corporate donations to support the WOA award as well as several local charities in the valley including The Angel House, Arizona Women's Education and Employment, Boys Hope-Girls Hope, Camelot Therapeutic Horsemanship, Arizona Girls Ranch, Junior Achievement, Southwest Autism Research Center, Maricopa Integrated Health System Ryan White AIDS Project, and selected school districts. For more information on tickets, to volunteer or to make a donation, please call Tonia Vickery, President-Elect at 602-518-5232.