Category: SIMAO

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The Live Your Dream Award is a signature program of Soroptimist International of the Americas. It provides vital cash grants to women who:

• Are the primary financial supporters of their families.
• Are pursuing higher education or skills training to improve their lives.
• Have overcome significant obstacles, such as poverty, domestic violence, or personal tragedy.

Unlike many scholarships, these awards are flexible. Recipients can use the funds to cover anything they need to succeed—from tuition and books to childcare and transportation.

Impacting Lives in Our Community

This year, our club has been fortunate to have many excellent applicants. We are proud to announce that we are presenting awards to seven incredible awardees. These women are working hard to build brighter futures for themselves and their families, and their journeys of resilience are truly inspiring.

“This award has not only improved my life and the lives of my children, it has also made an impact in my community.” — Carolyn, Award Recipient

Join Us to Celebrate!

We invite you to meet our current awardees and hear a bit about their journeys at our upcoming meeting:

• When: Saturday, March 14, 2026, at 11:00 AM Eastern Time.
• Where: Virtually via Zoom.
• Special Guest Speaker: The meeting will also feature Jan Carruthers, ED.S., author and educator, who will speak about The Dictionary Project and its role in closing the vocabulary gap for children in high-poverty schools.

How You Can Help

Your support fuels this life-changing work. Whether through donations or spreading the word, you help create a ripple effect that strengthens families and communities worldwide.

Together, we can help more women turn their dreams into reality.

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At Soroptimist International of Mid-Atlantic Online (SI-MAO), we believe that literacy is the foundation for a brighter future. Recently, we celebrated a major milestone in our mission to support local students through a powerful partnership and a shared passion for education.

Why Dictionaries?

The project was inspired by the work of Janet (Jan) Carruthers, Ed.S., and her initiative, Children’s Literacy Publications. Jan, an experienced educator, developed the Illustrated Dictionary of Everyday Things to help close the “vocabulary gap” that many students in high-poverty schools face.

These aren’t just books; they are tools for success. By providing students with their own dictionaries, we are giving them the words they need to thrive academically and unlock opportunities for life.

A Legacy of Literacy

This project is part of a larger, long-standing commitment by our club. Since being introduced to the initiative by member June Wallace in 2015, we have seen the transformative impact these resources have on reading scores and student confidence.

How You Can Help

Projects like this are only possible through community support and collaboration. Whether through donations or volunteering as a tutor, you can help us continue this inspiring work. For more information on the resources we use, visit Children’s Literacy Publications.

Together, we are giving every child the words they need to thrive.

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“Everything Has a Name. How many do you know?”

This is the motto of Children’s Literacy Publications (CLP), and for founder Janet (Jan) Caruthers, Ed. S., it isn’t just a tagline—it is a call to action. Founded in 2001, CLP was born out of a realization that a significant “vocabulary gap” was holding students back from becoming successful readers.

Today, we are highlighting Jan’s journey and her mission to ensure every child has the words they need to build a brighter future.

Experience Grounded in Reality

Jan’s expertise is built on a foundation of academic excellence and real-world service. She earned her B.A. in Elementary and Early Childhood Education from the University of South Florida and later achieved both an M.S. in English and an Ed. S. (Educational Specialist) degree in Reading from Nova Southeastern University.

However, the true catalyst for her work was her 29 years of teaching in Title 1 schools. Serving as a classroom teacher and an Academic Intervention Specialist, Jan saw firsthand what disadvantaged children need to succeed. She also earned an ESOL endorsement through Hillsborough County Public Schools, further cementing her ability to help diverse learners.

Children’s Literacy Publications: Bridging the Gap

After witnessing the struggle many students faced due to a lack of basic vocabulary, Jan established Children’s Literacy Publications. The company publishes books designed to build vocabulary for everyone from infants to adults.

Jan has authored five books and a workbook series specifically focused on filling the vocabulary gap. Her goal is simple but profound: to help children and adults increase the number of words they know, thereby making them better readers, writers, listeners, and speakers.

The Dictionary Project: A Tool for Change

A centerpiece of Jan’s work is The Dictionary Project. This initiative directly targets the vocabulary gap by providing picture dictionaries to second graders in high-poverty schools.

The project utilizes two key resources Jan developed:

• The Illustrated Dictionary of Everyday Things: Filled with the specific labels and words children need to create a “storehouse of words”.
• The Dictionary Toolkit: Provided to second-grade teachers, this includes lessons, assignments, and activities to help students actively review and use the new words they are learning.

By mastering these labels, students in these schools are given a better chance at success in school and beyond. As Jan says, “Helping disadvantaged children is the reason I wrote this book!”

Learn More

Jan is dedicated to helping parents and teachers create better readers. For more information on her books, The Dictionary Project, and free resources for vocabulary development, visit her website:

👉 https://childrensliteracypublications.com

 GLOBAL INVITATION | VIRTUAL ADVOCACY SEMINAR & TRAIN-THE-TRAINERS WORKSHOP

THEME: Domestic Violence, the Silent Epidemic: New Frontiers in Countermeasures

Framework: Three-Dimensional Psychological Intervention Strategy (3DPIS)

Date: February 7, 2026
 Time: 11:00 AM

 Breaking the Silence. Healing the Wounds. Transforming the World.

Domestic violence remains one of the most devastating yet often unspoken crises of our time — a silent epidemic that destroys lives, fractures families, and erodes communities across the globe.

This global virtual advocacy seminar and train-the-trainers workshop, organized by Agency for Families in Distress (AFFID) in partnership with Soroptimist International/Mid-Atlantic Online (SI/MAO), offers a groundbreaking opportunity to empower, heal, and transform.

Through the Three-Dimensional Psychological Intervention Strategy (3DPIS), participants will explore cutting-edge frameworks and practical tools for:
 Healing trauma and rebuilding lives
 Empowering survivors and families

Empowering communities to bridge deficits in the architecture for human development

 Strengthening community resilience
 Leading systemic change for peace and safety

Join an inspiring global community of mental health professionals, educators, gender advocates, faith leaders, survivors, and changemakers united by one mission to end violence, restore dignity, and ignite hope

Together, we can break the silence, heal our communities, and build a world where safety, love, and justice prevail.

 Be part of the movement. Be the change.

 Registration & Inquiries:

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We’re proud to share some exciting news—we did it!

Our club has made a meaningful contribution to the Club Giving program of Soroptimist International of the Americas, Inc., because we believe in the transformative power of education.

Education opens doors, unlocks potential, and gives individuals the tools to lead lives of independence, purpose, and impact. By supporting programs that empower women and girls through access to education, we’re helping create a future where more people can achieve their dreams and thrive.

Thank you to all our members and supporters who made this possible. Together, we’re not just donating—we’re making a difference.

In 2015-2016, our club was introduced to a powerful literacy initiative—the Dictionary Project—by member June Wallace. This project quickly resonated with us, especially given our long-standing commitment to educational access through programs like the Women’s Opportunity Award (now known as Live Your Dream).

At the time, our club had also launched a book collection drive for a summer enrichment program supporting girls in Appalachia, founded by a Duke University professor. The Dictionary Project felt like a natural extension of our mission.

As we learned more, we discovered how transformative the project could be. In a low-performing Florida school district, schools were using the Illustrated Dictionary of Everyday Things to improve end-of-grade reading scores—with remarkable success. Motivated by the impact, our club began donating copies of the dictionary and accompanying Teaching Guides to support the effort.

In May 2016, at our Spring Conference, we proposed expanding the initiative across the Region for the 2017–2018 fiscal year. The idea gained traction quickly. By the 2017 conference, regional clubs had committed to the goal of supplying 400 books to the Florida school system. Impressively, 85% of the goal was met during the event itself. Some members even purchased dictionaries to use at home, and several clubs began introducing the project to their own local schools.

The enthusiasm continued into 2018–2019, with the Region agreeing to fund the printing of 5,000 dictionaries and 500 Teacher’s Guides. Our club contributed further in 2019–2020, helping to sustain the project into its third year. During this time, June Wallace secured the copyright to the current print files and, with permission from author Jan Carruthers, ensured that any partner organizations could access Carruthers’ website—where she continued to update valuable training materials on how to best use the dictionary.

Like many educational efforts, the Dictionary Project was paused when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down schools. However, our club remains committed to reintroducing it as a flexible literacy tool for early grade levels—one that can be used effectively by mentors and volunteers in one-on-one or small group settings.

Today, as part of Soroptimist International of the Americas’ (SIA) Big Goal Accelerator Projects, we’re exploring partnerships beyond our core Dream Programs (Live Your Dream and Dream It, Be It). The Dictionary Project remains a shining example of how grassroots efforts, community partnerships, and a shared commitment to literacy can create lasting change.

Dear Soroptimists,   We sincerely hope that each of you, along with your families and loved ones, are safe and secure in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene and as we brace for expected Hurricane Milton. The road to recovery for many will no doubt require time, dedication, and significant resources, but we have full confidence that Soroptimists will once again demonstrate their resilience in the face of adversity. As part of the Soroptimist community, we stand with you in solidarity. Please take all necessary precautions, stay informed, and remain connected with your local authorities for the latest updates. We are thinking of you and will continue to keep you in our thoughts and hearts as these events unfold. With sincere concern and solidarity, Ginger Cole 2024-2025 SIA President Sue Riney 2024-2025 SIA President-elect Michelle Strawser 2024-2025 SIA Secretary/Treasurer Michelle Burnett Executive Director & CEO