Trenton Soroptimists Honor Local Women

Four local women were given monetary awards for their ambition and contribution to society. The Soroptimist International of Trenton Area, which is a service organization of hard-working women dedicated to improving the physical, mental, and emotional health and lives of women and girls, each year recognizes special women in our area.

The Grand Event in Trenton was the venue for the annual awards banquet on March 24. The judges for the various awards, local professional and business people, evaluated each participant’s application based on set criteria and essays delineating their contribution to women and society. Attendees at the banquet were the award winners and their guests, the judges, and of course, the Trenton Soroptimists. “As cliché as it sounds, there were so many hugs, one could feel the love in the room,” said member Pat Bryan.

The Live Your Dream award, formerly known as the Women’s Opportunity Award, assists women who have the primary financial responsibility for their families to obtain the skills, training, and education necessary to improve their employment status and standard of living for themselves and for their families. The award is appropriately renamed because it helps women who have faced economic and personal hardships to live their dreams. Noudiamintoya Molsby, a graduate of Wayne County Community College and now finishing her bachelor’s degree in business management and human resources at Baker College, is the 2015 Live Your Dream award winner. From a congenital heart defect repaired by open-heart surgery at age six, through physical and sexual abuse, to raising her three younger siblings while her mother was incarcerated, Toya worked full-time to support her family. She still diligently attends classes and volunteers at her church. Ms. Molsby’s faith as a “child of God” has helped her to overcome her many obstacles and has even brought her family closer.

To qualify for the Soroptimist Violet Richardson award, a young woman must be between the ages of fourteen and seventeen who is actively helping to make her community and world a better place through volunteer efforts. Trenton’s Gabrielle Maciag is a four-year member and current president of her high school’s Interact Club. The club’s goal is to fight hunger, help the less fortunate, and bring awareness to the youth of America of the problems facing others in other countries and their own neighborhoods. During her four years of service with the Interact Club, Gabrielle has given over 250 hours of her own time. She re-instituted a pancake breakfast to raise funds for the Woodhaven/Trenton Animal Shelter; participated in the Goodfellows and Boy Scout canned food drive; coordinated food, toiletry, and gift packages for oversees children; helped with the annual Jingle Drive to help the unfortunate at Christmas time; and Miss Maciag’s favorite activity, skating with the blind.

Denise Gleich of Wyandotte is this year’s Virginia Wagner award recipient. Judging is based on women attending a college or university with an effort toward scholarship, extra-curricular activities, and financial need. A young widow who lost her husband to a drug overdose while their three children were very small, the financial and emotional trauma took its toll on her. She says, “Addiction is a destructive disease. It destroys families, it destroys dreams, it destroys lives.” Ms. Gleich has overcome her struggle with alcoholism to be a good role model for her children and grandchild, while working to put herself through college. Denise’s goal is to become a licensed alcohol and drug addiction counselor and complete a master’s degree in social work. She is an active participant in community service projects such as Women in Learning and Leadership, Detroit Eviction Defense, National Conference for College Student Leaders, and the American Association of University Women. Ms. Gleich is also mentor at Vista Maria. Her commitment to sobriety, determination, and ambition to help others has made Denise the successful survivor she is today.

Women who, through their professional or personal efforts, make an extraordinary impact on women and girls, are honored with the Ruby award. Thirty-six years ago, this year’s recipient started working for non-profit organizations that support women and girls. Theresa Bizoe began her volunteering with the Boy Scouts as a youth representative, then as a District Executive involved with training women to become scoutmasters. This transitioned into overseeing programs for the Girl Scouts. Theresa’s involvement in First Step, a crisis center that provides a safe haven and services to victims of domestic and sexual abuse in southeast Michigan, includes being a resident manager, community services coordinator, board chair of their fundraising committee, two-term board president, and associate director of the facility. Ms. Bizoe’s efforts have helped to raise $4,500,000 to build a new housing shelter. She will donate her monetary Ruby award to First Step.
Two other women received special recognition for their contribution to our community. Cato Fashion’s Woodhaven manager, Deborah Wilson, and district manager, Chris Gauthier helped the Trenton Soroptimist with their fundraising fashion show last spring. Cato’s Fashion also contributes new clothes to First Step, Vista Maria, and Chrysalis Boutique.

If you are interested in Soroptimist membership, please contact us at trentonareasoroptimists@gmail.com or visit us on Facebook at Soroptimist Trenton, MI.