SI Sedro-Woolley awards money to local recipients

Soroptimist International of Sedro-Woolley presented checks to area food banks, the Sedro-Woolley Museum, and a Skagit County student who will use the monies to fund her education during its semi-monthly meeting at the town’s Community Center on February 22, 2011. SI-SW’s club President, Carolyn Freeman, gave checks, each totaling $1,000, to representatives from Skagit County food banks, including those in the towns of Clear Lake, Concrete, Hamilton, Lyman, and Marblemount. 

Accepting checks on behalf of the local food banks were: Marblemount - Bread of Life - Faye Nichols Clear Lake - Community Covenant - Darrel Gadbois Concrete - Food Bank - Marty Smith Hamilton - Food Bank - Ron Edwards Lyman - Shepherd's Heart - Arla Mae Freeman Freeman also awarded the Sedro-Woolley Museum a check totaling $1,000 for the club’s annual “President’s Award.” Museum board member Brian Backman called the award “an honor” and said how much he enjoys being a part of the organization in the community. The last award, the Women’s Opportunity Award, went to Kathie Peterson, a student at Skagit Valley College who will continue her education at Western Washington University. Toni Ruhl, the club’s Scholarship Committee Chair, told the meeting’s attendees that Peterson received the $1,600 college scholarship for her academic endeavors and her goals to work with homeless and abused women and children. The Women’s Opportunity Award lets women who serve as the primary source of income for their families receive financial support that allows them to improve their skills—and job prospects— through vocational or undergraduate college programs.