North Central Region SIA

Who is the Violet Richardson Award Winner?

• A young woman who is caring, compassionate, creative and most
of all committed to making the
world a better place.

• A young woman who demonstrates initiative in both identifying a
problem and in trying to solve it.

• A young woman who has had significant and noteworthy accomplishments as a volunteer.

Eligibility
• Applicants must be young women
14 to 17 years of age on the date of
their application.

• Applicants must be engaged in
a volunteer activity.

• Soroptimists, Soroptimist employees
and the immediate families of both
are ineligible. Previous winners of
this award are also ineligible.

An applicant must complete an
application for and a 750 word
narrative describing their
volunteer activities.

The following clubs in the North Central Region participate in giving this award.
You may request application forms
by clicking on local club names below :

Iowa:
- SI Algona
- SI Cedar Rapids/Marion
- SI Des Moines

Minnesota:
- SI Greater Minneapolis
- SI Hibbing
- SI Moorhead
- SI Virginia

Nebraska:
- SI Columbus
- SI Lincoln

North Dakota:
- SI Fargo

South Dakota:
- SI Sioux Falls

The Violet Richardson Award is a recognition program for young women
ages 14-17 engaged in volunteer action within their communities or schools.

This award is administered by local participating Soroptimist clubs and is not available
in all communities. Soroptimist headquarters and regions do not distribute
nor accept applications. Contact your local Soroptimist club for more information.

If you live in one of the states in the North Central Region -
North or South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, or Minnesota,
then you may request further information through this site.

Applications must be submitted prior to DECEMBER 1 of each calendar year.
See below for clubs in the North Central Region who participate.

The Violet Richardson Award is given to young women whose volunteer activities
make the community and world a better place. The award is in honor of the president
of the first Soroptimist club, Violet Richardson, a woman of action, whose indomitable
spirit and sense of personal responsibility were demonstrated by her lifelong commitment
to volunteering in her community.

All awards are given for activities conducted on a volunteer basis. Volunteer projects can
include, but are not limited to, projects that address social problems such as homelessness,
violence, drug abuse, unemployment, illiteracy, discrimination, AIDS, and pollution.
Projects may assist any group including the elderly, the disabled, and mentally or
emotionally challenged groups.

Projects that benefit women or girls are especially valued. Topics can include, but are not
limited to mentoring, sexual harassment, sexual decision-making, teen parenting, careers,
finances and any other projects that specifically benefit women, young women or girls.

This award is based solely on her volunteer work. This award is an opportunity to honor
a girl who might not otherwise receive recognition. She may not be the best student,
the best athlete, or the most popular girl in school, but she is committed to making
the world a better place.

Program Deadlines
December 1: Completed applications to the club.
January 15: Club Honoree's application due to District Director.
February 15: District Director forwards district winner to Region VRA Chair.
March 15: Region honoree's application to federation (SIA Headquarters).

For further information about North Central participation,
email Judy Anderson, North Central Region Chair.

For more information about programs for young women,
contact the SIA program department or write:

SIA Program Department,
Two Penn Center Plaza, Suite 1000
Philadelphia, PA 19102

Go to the Soroptimist International
of the Americas site, www.soroptimist.org.