Soroptimist honors two with Ruby Awards

Soroptimist International of Carson City recently presented its annual Ruby Awards at its luncheon meeting. The Ruby Award honors individuals who have made a difference for women in our community.

Soroptimists recognized and honored the following:

• Rebecca Rund is a Fritsch Elementary School mom who identified a local need for hungry kids and developed Food for Thought to aid disadvantaged children by stuffing backpacks with nutritious, non-perishable food for the weekends. The program, started in 2006, now has 100 volunteers utilizing a 3,000-foot warehouse facility serving more than 15,000 meals per year to more than 600 students from 10 schools within the Carson City and Virginia City area.

• Florence Phillips is the founder/director of the English as a Second Language In-Home Program of Northern Nevada. Phillips works tirelessly recruiting, training, inspiring tutors, and matching them with students. Her ongoing efforts have helped these students find jobs, advance their careers. Out of the program, 63 women became U.S. citizens with the help of their tutors, some are now studying for citizenship and a GED. Florence will be submitted for consideration of a Sierra Nevada Region Award.

New fundraiser slated

Soroptimist International of Carson City will be holding a new fundraiser Champagne and Shoes from 6-8 p.m. Friday, April 15 at the Nevada Room of the Governor's Mansion.

A "Razzle Dazzle 'Em Shoe Contest" will be held as well as a premier raffle will take place.

For information on attending this Ladies Night Out, call Mary Luster at 220-9630 or visit www.sicarsoncity.org to purchase tickets ($30 each).

Proceeds are donated to Food for Thought, Carson-Tahoe Merriner Cottages, student scholarships, Carson Special Olympics, Children's Museum of Northern Nevada, Children's Home Respite Program, the Western Nevada College Book Fund, Easter Shoe Program, Backpack Attack, Volunteer Attorneys for Rural Nevada for domestic violence legal assistance, Carson High School Culinary Arts Program and mammograms for local women.

To learn more about Soroptimist International of Carson City or to join, call membership chair Marilyn Lewis at 882-4875 or president Sherry Griffin-Grundy at 297-4890.