About Soroptimists

Our Mission

Chartered in 1979, Soroptimist International of Saratoga County is part of an International non-profit organization with 80,000 members in local clubs in 120 countries and territories. The first Soroptimist chapter was founded in Oakland, California in 1921 by a small group of women led by Violet Richardson Ward.

The Soroptimist mission is to provide women and girls with access to the education, training, and other resources they need to achieve economic and social empowerment.

In keeping with this mission, Soroptimist International maintains four core values that guide our actions both locally and globally:

• Gender Equality: We believe that women and girls should live free from discrimination.
• Empowerment: We believe that women and girls should be free to act in their own best interests.
• Education: We believe that women and girls deserve to lead full and production lives through access to education.
• Diversity and Fellowship: We believe that the lives of women and girls can be improved when women from varied backgrounds and perspectives work together.

Soroptimist International of Saratoga County, informally called Saratoga Soroptimists, fulfills the mission by bringing together an extraordinary group of women who give generously of their time and talent to provide educational programs and financial awards designed to make a difference in the lives of women and girls.