At Soroptimist International of Greater Santa Clarita Valley, helping women and young girls live their dreams is at the heart of the organization’s mission.
Last Saturday, to support those efforts, the local club held its 14th annual Soroptimist Boutique and Fashion Show, “Defy Gravity: A Masquerade in the Emerald City of Dreams.”
The theme of the festivities was meant to take guests into the world of musical fantasy film “Wicked” while simultaneously raising funds to support their two programs, because “When women support women, you can truly defy gravity,” said Luana Smith to a crowd of guests before the models were set to strut the runway.
The Live Your Dream award is a grant that provides single-mother households with financial support to pursue education, or a career path that leads to a brighter everyday life, Smith said. Many of its recipients are also domestic violence survivors, she added.
The second program, that many attendees described as not only important, but also life-changing was the Dream It Be It program, which provides high school-aged girls in the SCV with mentorship and career counseling, Smith said. The program services at least seven schools in the William S. Hart Union High School District.
“It’s vital that we raise money on these two, to fund our mission and our programs,” she said.
But the fun night wasn’t just about local leaders strutting the runway. It was also a moment for members to reflect how their lives have changed since joining the women-led club and the impact of their volunteerism.
The local club, which was founded in 2008, is part of a larger global volunteer organization that works to improve the lives of women through programs that lead to social and economic empowerment, according to its website.
Ketty Sayegh joined the club because of the Dream It Be It program. When she saw the first group of girls she was going to work with, many of them seemed lost in what they wanted to pursue, she said. Over time as they were guided by herself and other members, they slowly came out of their shells and gained confidence.
That moment was pivotal in her volunteerism because, “your life has meaning when you give to people,” Sayegh said, and it makes her happy.
Sayegh wants more young girls and women to use their voices to speak up and seek help when they may need it, because it takes a village of support to succeed, she said.
As club member Julie Shelton looked at the clothes for sale during the boutique segment of the event with guest Susan Beesley, she described her time with Soroptimist as a way to embrace community spirit.
“I loved how people got together, beautiful women got together. It was like a community spirit for everyone and giving their time and their friendship to others,” Shelton said.
“Support the community. We have to do that because we don’t get it from any place else,” Beesley added.
“Having the opportunity to pour into the young women that we mentor in the Dream It Be It program is something that just completely fills my cup,” Di Thompson said as she was preparing for showtime. “Anything that has to do with empowering women/girls is what is part of my personal mission.”
Thompson and Gris Barron have modeled in the annual fundraiser for several years to support the cause, and their advice for any young girl learning to navigate life and its challenges is simple.
“The best is yet to come. Do not compare yourself to others and dream big,” Thompson said, and Barron agreed, nodding in support.
