about Founder Region

"Founder Region" is so named because the first Soroptimist club met and was chartered in Oakland, California in 1921 when the first club, Alameda County was formed.  The Constitution of that first club stated the purpose of Soroptimist was "To foster the spirit of service..."  That purpose and "spirit of service" drives every Soroptimist club, district, region, and federation to this day.

Since those beginnings, Soroptimist International(SI) - the world's largest classified volunteer service organization for women in business, management, and the professions - has grown to an international organization, with headquarters in the United Kingdom., and thousands of service clubs around the world. Soroptimists are found in one hundred and twenty-four (124) countries, with over 3,100 clubs & approximately 92,000 members.

Founder Region is a unit ofSoroptimist International of the Americas(SIA), with territory which encompasses ten north coast counties in California, the State of Hawai'i, and the U.S. territories of Guam & the Marianas.

The clubs of Soroptimist International strive for human rights for all, equality, development and peace through international understanding and friendship. Because of their work, SI holds category 1 consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations International Non-Governmental Organization.

"It is the policy of Soroptimist International to be concerned with international and national issues that relate to its objects and programmes. On matters of political controversy between nations, or party politics and of sectarian religion, Soroptimist International maintains a position of strict neutrality." (From SI Constitution)

SIA is one of four federations working in six adopted programs of service...

• Economic & Social Development
• Education
• Environment
• Health
• Human Rights / Status of Women
• International Goodwill & Understanding

Soroptimists play a daily part in their community - thousands, if not millions of volunteer hours per year are devoted to programs ranging from local programs devoted to local needs, such as shelters and scholarships, to world-wide efforts to improve conditions for women and children. You may learn about the international and federation level programs on the Soroptimist InternationalandSoroptimist International of the Americasweb sites. Founder Region club web sites offer information on local programs. This web site gives an overview of the programs conducted on the Regional Level.

In addition to other programs, the region's permanent identifying project is Founder Region Fellowship. This effort offers $20,000.00 in fellowships and grants to women enrolled in graduate schools within the boundaries of Founder Region who are in the last year of their doctoral studies.