Soroptimist International of Novato Announces 2014 Violet Richardson Award Winners

A teen’s life is busy: dealing with the pressures of “growing up,” going to school, devoting many hours to homework, and often working a part-time job. Despite these demands, young women in Novato are setting time aside for volunteering—to make a difference in their community. Two such inspiring volunteers are Caroline Cirby from vato High School and Olivia Murillo from San Marin High School. For Caroline’s dedication and perseverance, Soroptimist International of Novato recently awarded her the Violet Richardson Award in the amount of $1,000 and Olivia was awarded $500 as the runner-up. The program recognizes young women who make the community and world a better place.

Caroline is an active volunteer with the Marin Women’s Commission as a Marin Teen Ambassador currently working to create the Marin Teen Girl Conference. This conference gave her a chance to help friends and family, to provide resources to other girls, and to inspire other girls to become anything they wanted. She advocates most for anti-bullying and mental health workshops, including starting the “Kind Club” at her school to raise awareness of girl-on-girl bullying. At club meetings they discuss girls’ experiences and ways they can help one another. Caroline leads twenty girls to plan the fifth annual conference that reaches out to about 250 girls and she’s also applied for grants to raise money for the conference.

Olivia has worked for the Youth Leadership Institute for the past three years and the Blue Ribbon Coalition for Youth for the past year. Both of these organizations work toward a healthier Novato and specifically, against underage drinking and drug use. These organizations make special efforts to employ youth leadership and for youth to have more responsibilities and greater voices to solve problems that young people face. She has spoken many times about prevalent issues in our community, including to the Board of Supervisors, the Superintendent and the Mayor of Novato.

For information about Soroptimist International of Novato, please go to www.SoropNovato.org. For membership information, please contact membership chair, Sylvia Barry at 415-717-0293 or email sylvia@SylviaBarryRE.com