I’ve lived in the community for 15 years. I like the close-knit small-town environment where the people support and take care of each other. 

Soroptimist International of Oakdale (SIO) is the local representation of Soroptimist International, a global volunteer organization whose mission statement is: Soroptimist is a global volunteer organization that provides women and girls with access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment.   

Soroptimist International’s flagship programs are Dream It Be It and Live Your Dreams.  Dream it Be It is a career conference for high school girls which we hold annually at Oakdale and East Stanislaus High Schools.  The Live Your Dreams program is an award that is given to a female head of household who is enrolled in school and working to improve their and their families' lives by furthering their education. This program has inspired many and brought hope to those striving for a better future.   Some of the local programs Soroptimist of Oakdale provides are: sponsoring the S club that’s run by Oakdale High School students and they provide community service: providing scholarships to high school students, providing lap tops to college bound girls who could not otherwise afford them. Providing monthly craft activities for the Guardian House and Santa stockings at Christmas.  Sponsoring the Distinguished Young Women program, which is a scholarship completion for high school juniors.   In 2024 SIO provided $25,000.00 gift to Modesto Gospel Mission to be used for women and children experiencing homelessness through the new Hannah’s House center.  

During my membership in the club, I’ve been honored to serve in different capacities.  I’m a past president of the SIO club and served as the District II Director of the Soroptimist Sierra Pacific Region.  Currently, I’m serving as the  Membership Chair for Soroptimist Sierra Pacific Region. 

I believe in its mission of empowering girls and women in our community and beyond. Eight years ago, I attended an SIO membership networking meeting and was impressed with its programs and how they impact the Oakdale community.

I’ve seen our Dream It Be It program’s impact on high school girls' career aspirations. In Dream It Be It, girls are exposed to and inspired by successful working women in our community.

We are thrilled about our upcoming fundraiser, Designer Bag Bingo!  This exciting event is being held on October 6, 2024 at the Gene Bianchi Center, with doors opening at 2:00 pm.  The ticket price of $50.00 includes 10 bingo cards, 1 per game, and there will also be a raffle and live auction.  We invite the community to join us in this fun-filled event and support our cause by attending or donating towards our raffle or live auction.