What We Do
Local Programs
Learn about our community investments via scholarships, awards, gifts, and grants.
Events
Read about Breakfast in the Park and Festival of Trees, and see what events we have coming up soon.
Local Programs
Learn about our community investments via scholarships, awards, gifts, and grants.
Events
Read about Breakfast in the Park and Festival of Trees, and see what events we have coming up soon.
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Local Programs
As part of Soroptimist’s commitment to investing in programs leading to social and economic empowerment, the La Grande chapter also funds local grants and scholarships. These local programs support members of our community in their effort to raise stronger, healthier families and improve the quality of life through education and opportunity.
If you currently live in Union County, you might already be familiar with some of our larger programs: The Festival of Trees, June Breakfast in the Park, or the Boots & Socks program. The Community Grants program distributes funding to approximately a dozen local organizations that support women and girls in our area.
Scholarship & Awards
Senior University Student Scholarship
Status: CLOSED
Academic Year: 26-27
Submission Deadline: April 3, 2026 5 pm
Eligibility Info & Application:
- Must be eligible for Senior status at a accredited four-year University Fall 2026.
- Must be a graduate of a Union County high school
- GPA of 2.75 or better
- Senior University Student Application
- Resume Template for Scholarship Application
- Media Consent Form
Continuing Education - University or Community College Scholarship
Status: CLOSED
Academic Year: 26-27
Submission Deadline: April 3, 2026 5 pm
Eligibility info & Application:
- Must be eligible for Sophomore or Junior at a University or Community College Fall 2026
- Must have graduated from a Union County high school
- GPA of 2.75 or better
- Continuing Education Scholarship Application
- Resume Template for Scholarship Application
- Media Consent Form
Graduating High School Student - University or Community College Scholarship
Status: CLOSED
Academic year: 26-27
Submission Deadline: April 3, 2026 5 pm
Eligibility info & Application:
- Must be graduating from a Union County high school
- Must be attending a four-year University, or Community College in the Fall 2026
- GPA of 2.50 of better
- Graduating High School Student Application
- Resume Template for Scholarship Application
- Media Consent Form
Graduating High School Student - Trade/Vocational School Scholarship
Status: CLOSED
Academic year: 26-27
Submission Deadline: April 3, 2026 5 pm
Eligibility info & application:
- Must have graduated from a Union County high school
- Must be attending Trade/Vocational school in the Fall 2026
- Graduating High School Student – Trade/Vocational School Scholarship Application
- Resume Template for Scholarship Application
- Media Consent Form
Gerry Braseth-Palmer Memorial Medical Scholarship
Academic Year: 26-27
Submission Deadline: April 3, 2026 5 pm
Eligibility Info and Application
- Must be admitted into an official program for a career in the medical field
- Must be enrolled in a university, community college, or trade/vocational school in the Fall of 2026
- Must have graduated from a Union County high school
- GPA of 2.75 or better
Live Your Dream Award - Open August 1, 2026 - November 15, 2026
Status: OPEN
Application timeline: August 1, 2026 to November 15, 2026
The Soroptimist Live Your Dream: Education and Training Awards for Women provides women who serve as the primary wage earners for their families with the financial resources to offset costs associated with their efforts to attain higher education or additional skills and training. Recipients can use the award for tuition, books, childcare, carfare or any other education-related expense.
Eligibility info & application:
- Determine eligibility at Live Your Dream Award on the SI International Website.
- Online Application at SI website
Jean McKenzie Woman of the Year
Nominations are accepted from Soroptimist members near the end of each club year.
This award was established in 1993 to honor Jean McKenzie, a Soroptimist Life Member and long-time community leader. Her Soroptimist pin was mounted on a plaque to be given each year to an outstanding Soroptimist.
In 2001, Soroptimist of La Grande combined the Jean McKenzie Award with the Soroptimist Woman of the Year Award honoring one Soroptimist with the “Jean McKenzie Woman of the Year” traveling plaque.
Once this award is open for nominations, Soroptimist members are encouraged to nominate another member who is an outstanding volunteer in Union County, who cares about our area and tries to “Make a Difference” – a member who has demonstrated community involvement and helping others beyond the club requirement for members. Refer to the list below for all of the amazing past recipients we have had the honor of working with!
Past Recipients
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Judy Rygg 2003-2004 Marlene Perkins 2004-2005 Gwenn Houtz 2005-2006 Patty Gooderham 2006-2007 Kristi Puckett 2007-2008 Pat Wood 2008-2009 Gerry Palmer 2009-2010 Shirley Roberts 2010-2011 Di Lyn Larsen-Hill 2011-2012 Julie Hickerson 2012-2013 Rebecca Loman 2013-2014 |
Melinda Wells 2014-2015 Jacque Harvey 2015-2016 Tressa Seydel 2016-2017 Shannon Willmarth 2017-2018 Fam Moulton 2018-2019 Andrea Waldrop 2020-2021 Patty Gooderham 2021-2022 Jacque Harvey 2022-2023 Shayla Rollins 2023-2024 Tori Gandy 2024-2025 Kate Huelter 2025-2026 |
Boots & Socks
Each year, we work with DHS to identify families in need of winter footwear.
We typically give out 300 pairs of boots to women and children in need.
We partner with the La Grande Lions Club as they give away coats.
Community Grants
Community Grants funding application link: Community Benefits Grant Application 2026
Applications are accepted January 1, 2027 through April 30, 2027 and reviewed for funding March 1, 2027 or May 1, 2027 depending on submission date.
Programs SILG awarded grants to in 2025-26.
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Babies First/CaCoon Blue Mountains Conservancy Elevate Gymnastics Friends of the Opera House Island City Elementary School LaGrande Main Street Downtown-Shamrock Shuffle Les Schwab & Elkhorn Media Toy Drive Next Step Pregnancy & Relationship Center Shelter from the Storm Training & Employment Consortium (TEC) Tribe MC Nomads Christmas Toy Drive Union County CARE- Elgin Pool Passes Union County CASA Union County Special Olympics Youth for Christ – Drop in Center |
Events
Breakfast in the Park
Each year, we serve a pancake breakfast at Riverside Park in La Grande in partnership with La Grande Parks and Rec. Traditionally held in June, proceeds are designated to fund an EOU scholarship. We have a long history with Riverside Pavilion. When it burned in 2011, we designed and funded a large portion of the new commercial kitchen.
Festival of Trees
An annual fundraiser held the first weekend in December, this gala is our major fundraiser that allows us to support scholarships, and grants to community organizations that support and further our mission. Over the years, our Christmas Tree Auction has afforded us the ability to return over one million dollars to the community.
Coming Events
Global Programs
Soroptimist International is a global women’s organization whose members volunteer to improve the lives of women and girls through programs leading to social and economic empowerment. The Soroptimist Dream Programs ensure women and girls have access to the education and training they need to reach their full potential and live their dreams. Soroptimists are committed to investing in programs that promote sustainable, measurable, change for women and girls.
Dream It, Be It
Dream It, Be It: Career Support for Girls gives girls the tools they need to achieve their education and career goals, empowering them to break cycles of poverty, violence, and abuse. Although all girls face barriers because of their gender, we prioritize working with girls who have additional obstacles including poverty, unstable home lives, living in foster care, or teen motherhood.
Soroptimist clubs work in partnership with girls in small groups or a conference setting to provide them with the information and resources they want and need to be successful. By reaching girls while they are still young, we not only can help them stay healthy and safe in the short term, but we can reduce the number of women in crisis in the future. Putting them on a path will help them realize their dreams. Far too many girls face barriers on the pathway to achieving their dreams. Obstacles such as poverty, teen dating violence, and teen pregnancy can get in the way of a girl’s ability to make her dreams a reality.
Dream It, Be It equips girls to overcome their obstacles, set goals, and head towards success. Soroptimist launched the Dream It, Be It curriculum in 2015. Since then, more than 35,000 girls around the world have participated.
Live Your Dream
Soroptimist’s Live Your Dream Awards program is a unique education award for women who provide the primary financial support for their families. The Live Your Dream Awards give women the resources they need to improve their education, skills and employment prospects.
UpliftHER
Soroptimists UpliftHER is an exciting new member engagement initiative!
Once a quarter, we will focus on an obstacle that women and girls face on their path to formal education and economic empowerment. SIA headquarters will share suggested projects related to that obstacle that count towards our Big Goal, of helping make the dreams of half a million more women and girls come true by 2031. Clubs can participate in the quarterly project focus by sharing SIA posts and posting their own projects with the hashtag #SoroptimistsUpliftHER.
