Thank you to all who donated to Founder Region Fellowship during our Fall District Meeting Basket Fundraiser. We were able to award 19 Fellows from the three meetings; those names are listed in the November Founder Region newsletter. All funds raised help in awarding our grants to women in the final phase of their doctoral degrees.

Fellowship is now in the process of accepting applications for our upcoming grants in May 2025. But often we get asked about prior awardees – “Where are they now?” I am happy to note that one of our 2016 awardees, Dr. Kealoha Fox, has been appointed to a position in Honolulu. Please read the following press release:

Mayor Blangiardi appoints Dr. Kealoha Fox as Deputy Director of the Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency

HONOLULU — Mayor Rick Blangiardi is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Kealoha Fox as the new Deputy Director of the City and County of Honolulu’s Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency. Dr. Fox brings over 15 years of experience in Native Hawaiian health, climate policy, and social health integration, bridging Indigenous innovation with the City’s efforts to create a more resilient future.

Dr. Fox’s extensive background includes leadership positions within Hawai‘i’s nonprofit, healthcare, and academic sectors, most recently as President of the Institute for Climate & Peace and Director of Health Equity at AlohaCare. Her expertise in promoting equitable access to health services, combined with her commitment to cultural sustainability, aligns with the mission of the Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency to preserve Oʻahu’s natural resources and community well-being in the face of climate challenges.

“Dr. Kealoha Fox brings a powerful blend of cultural wisdom, scientific expertise, and a deep commitment to community,” said Mayor Rick Blangiardi. “Her dedication to weaving indigenous knowledge into the foundation of climate resilience will be invaluable as we work together to protect our island and its people for generations to come. I am confident that her leadership, vision, and passion will help strengthen our city’s commitment to sustainability and cultural stewardship.”

Dr. Fox earned her Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Hawai‘i’s John A. Burns School of Medicine, where her research on integrating traditional Hawaiian practices in healthcare has set new quality standards for culturally informed services. Her numerous accolades include the Kua‘ana Merit Scholar award, the STEM Scholars distinction from the University of Hawai‘i, and executive leadership training from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley.

“We are eager to welcome Dr. Kealoha Fox to our team here as the Deputy Director,” said Ben Sullivan, Executive Director of the Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency. “Her background and experience at the nexus of climate and health and her deep ties to our community will help the City ensure our people are the heart of our efforts to adapt to and mitigate climate change.”
Dr. Fox begins her new role on Monday, November 18, 2024.


Happy Thanksgiving to all,
President Vicki

GRANTS:
Founder Region Fellowship offers grants to women:

• enrolled in graduate schools within the boundaries of Founder Region
• who have advanced to candidacy
• who are entering into the last year of their doctoral programs

INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS:
Join us on Zoom to learn about Founder Region Fellowship and how to apply for our grants.
Two opportunities to attend:

• Wednesday, November 13, 2024   6:00pm (PST)   REGISTER
• Sunday, November 17, 2024           5:00PM (PST)   REGISTER

The 2025 Fellowship Grant cycle will open from November 1, 2024 to January 25, 2025.

Founder Region Fellowship is looking forward to the upcoming 2024 District Meetings in October. Please start preparing your club’s basket, with at least a $75 value, for our Fellowship Fundraiser. The theme is “Solving Puzzles by Degrees!” By now your club should have received your tickets for this fundraiser; $5 each or 5 for $20. Encourage your club members to purchase the tickets for a chance to win one of the beautiful baskets, or perhaps an instant Fellow; we will be drawing for Fellows as our ticket sales reach $1,000. You can sell to others outside your club as well, so if you run out of tickets, be sure to contact your District Fellowship Director or President Vicki to receive additional tickets.

Also consider signing up for monthly giving at the District Meeting.  This becomes and easy way to bring your donation to $1,000 for a new Fellow or level up. Forms will be available at the meetings; and by signing up for monthly giving, you will receive a tassel key-ring as tassels are significant to graduations.

We are working on puzzle games for our fundraising at Conference this year. More information to follow, however, we hope to begin sales of our Conference puzzles at the District Meetings.

Please contact your Fellowship Director with any questions you may have regarding our fundraisers and Fellowship in general. She is always ready and willing to help!
We hope to see many of you next month at the District Meetings.

President Vicki

The Founder Region Fellowship Board is gearing up for the 2024-2026 biennium. The Fellowship theme is “Solving Puzzles by Degrees” and we are working on creative ways to fundraise which we are hoping will be fun and exciting.

Our first actual “pinning” occurred on June 30th. Technically this was from last biennium, but Director Tess jumped at the chance to visit SI/The Redwoods to pin new fellow Tina Wilcox.

We look forward to seeing everyone at District Meetings this October. This is a major fundraiser for Fellowship and we need all clubs involved. Your District Fellowship Director will be distributing tickets to the clubs at the August PRTs or mailing them to your club president if your meeting is virtual. Tickets are 1 for $5 and 5 for $20. Your club will receive 5 tickets per member plus a few extra; you can sell the tickets to family and friends as well, so if you need more tickets, you can contact us. Clubs selling all of their tickets will receive 3 additional tickets in the club’s name. We will be drawing for a chance to win one of the beautiful baskets furnished by each club and also chances to win a Fellow or level up.

Please remember to have your club furnish a basket worth $75 and bring it to the District Meeting scheduled for your club’s district. These are fun to put together and members enjoy winning the lovely baskets along with the chance to become a fellow.

District Meeting will also be your opportunity to visit the Fellowship
table and learn more about what we do and how you can help. Fellowship is funded almost entirely by the membership so we encourage you to consider making a one-time donation or signing up for Monthly Giving. The Fellowship Directors will be on hand to help you with these transactions.

We look forward to seeing you there. Please contact us if you have any questions.
President Vicki and the Fellowship Board

Founder Region Fellowship kicked off the 2024 Conference with the combined Fellowship and Region Reception followed by the Awards Dinner and Gala where we awarded 7 outstanding women with $70,000 in grants. All members had the opportunity to meet the recipients and view their academic posters, which you can see on our website. To date, Founder Region Fellowship has provided 370 women with almost 1.8 million dollars in funding to help them achieve their doctoral degrees. THOSE ARE SOME NUMBERS OF WHICH WE CAN BE VERY PROUD!

Thank you to our members and clubs, who continually find value in the Fellowship Program and provide the funds that help the best and brightest women become change makers. We want to thank each and every one of you for supporting our fundraisers and for making donations either through monthly giving or direct donation to become a Fellow, or level up.

Below are the pinning's and drawings that occurred at the 2024 Founder Region Conference.

Thank you from the 2022-2024 Fellowship Board.

Daniela Escontrela Dieguez - UH Mānoa
Pascale Boucicaut - UC Berkeley
Mahwish Moazzam - UC Berkeley
Nicolette Puskar - UC Berkeley
Monica De La Cruz - UC Berkeley
Arlyn Moreno Luna - UC Berkeley
Smrity Ramavarapu - UH Mānoa

There are several pre-conference events we want to share with our members. 

The Fellowship Auction on Rally Up is now open. Don't miss out on the final inventory of the SI pins and other items. "Bid" or "Buy it Now" options available! Auction closes April 15th.

Founder Region Fellowship, Inc. invites you - Soroptimist Clubs, Soroptimist members and businesses in our communities - to become a SPONSOR of Founder Region Fellowship. Our vision is to improve the lives of women and girls locally and globally by awarding fellowships to women who will truly make a difference in the world. We offer grants to women attending educational institutions within our Region such as: UC Berkeley, CSU East Bay, St. Mary’s, College and University of Hawaii at Manoa to name a few.

We invite you to partner with us by contributing $1,000, $2,500, $5,000 or $10,000 to help support this program, so we can help more women in the final phase of their doctoral programs. There are several opportunities to advertise your business at our Friday night Reception and our Awards Gala.  Anticipated attendance of 350 will include members from throughout Founder Region, our Official Visitor from our Federation, as well as local speakers and dignitaries, and will take place at the San Ramon Marriott Hotel.

 (Includes signage at Fellow Reception and logo on social media)

(Includes 1/2 page black/white ad in Fellowship Program, signage at Fellow Reception & Award’s Gala, logo on website and social media)

¨ Premium Full Page Color Ad in Fellowship commemorative program booklet
¨ Premium banner placement around convention area (sponsor to provide banner)
¨ Premium logo placement on all media mentions
¨ Option to provide promotional item on tables during Fellowship Dinner & Gala
    (sponsor to provide 350 items)

Fellowship Grant Sponsor
Name on Fellowship Grant Certificate and on screen during presentation
¨ Premium Full Page Color Ad in Fellowship commemorative program booklet
¨ Premium banner placement around convention area (sponsor to provide banner)
¨ Premium logo placement on all media mentions
¨ Option to provide promotional item on tables during Fellowship Dinner & Gala
   (sponsor to provide 350 items)
¨ Logo listed on website in perpetuity

Contact us for more information:
Kris Chorbi, President - kchorbi5@yahoo.com                                  
Danelle Tegarden, Treasurer - FRFellowshipTreasurer2022.2024@ gmail.com
Please email your business card or camera-ready ads (jpeg or pdf format) to President Kris by  April 15, 2024.                     

Thank you to all our clubs for supporting the Fellowship Fundraiser and our merchandise sales at the District Meetings last month. Fellowship is almost completely supported by our members and we could not help women in the final phase of their doctoral programs without you. I hope you enjoyed hearing from 2023 Fellowship Recipients  Jennifer Edens & Jasmine Jan,  They enjoyed meeting our members and I know you found value in hearing from them directly on the impact of the Fellowship grants.  Clubs did a beautiful job with the baskets and most clubs sold all their raffle numbers, so thank you again. 
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Fellows Won:
SI/The Tri-Valley - club will designate a  Fellow
Roni Item - SI/The East Bay – 2nd level
Maria Mathews - SI/Benicia – 2nd level
Sue Avery - SI/Dixon – 1st level
Nancy Bennett - SI/Central Solano – 1st level

Monthly Giving Pledges:  
Laura Koehler - SI/The Tri-Valley
Cheryl Bovee - SI/Vacaville Twilight
Dr. Jacquie Bruessard- SI/Central Solano
 

 Fellows Won  
Laurie Gallian - SI/Sonoma Valley - 4th level
SI/Novato - club will designate a Fellow
Sharon Redd - SI/Humboldt Bay - 6th level
SI/Ukiah - club will designate a Fellow

75 Year Campaign Donations:
Sally Munger

Monthly Giving Pledges:  
Catherine Herron - SI/Windsor
Shirley Lipa - SI/Eel River Valley
 

Fellows Won:
Nancy Tan - SI/The Marianas - 3rd level
Laurie Keeno - SI/Honolulu - 1st level

Fellows Purchased:
Nancy Tan - SI/The Marianas - 4th level
Dr. Karen Sablan- SI/The Marianas - 1st level
Wayne Santos - SI/The Marianas - 4th level

Monthly Giving Pledges:
Jessica Castro - SI/The Marianas
Loling Field - SI/The Marianas

For the fourth consecutive year, women doctoral candidates from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa earned grants recognizing their studies, research and work, all of which have great social importance to the world.

Nearly half of the 2023 Founder Region Fellowship grants from Soroptimist Founder Region Fellowship, Inc. were awarded to UH Mānoa students. Erin McConkey, Joanne Qinaʻau, Randi Rollins and Amy Var each received a $10,000 unrestricted grant to support the completion of their degrees.

“I had the privilege of attending the Soroptimist Conference, an unforgettable and enriching experience,” Rollins, from the School of Life Sciences, said. “We connected with all the remarkable awardees and personally met the generous sponsors to express our gratitude. The grant not only enabled me to reduce my hours at a part-time job but also afforded me the precious time needed to focus on completing my dissertation. Furthermore, it facilitated my participation in a statistical training in Seattle. These opportunities have been pivotal in nurturing my professional growth, guiding me towards the next step in my career.”

In honor of the Founder Region Fellowship’s 75th anniversary, a celebration was held in Oakland, California, where awardees were recognized for their doctoral work and contributions. Since 1948, 363 grants totaling more than $1.7 million have been awarded. Some of the fields awarded over the years include: clinical psychology, endocrinology, sociology, genetics, immunology, zoology, marine biology, civil engineering, bioengineering, infectious diseases, agricultural policy reform, law, social science and special education.

“I couldn’t be more grateful! The buffer fellowships like this allows for more time and energy to be spent on our research—hopefully this means an even higher quality of work,” Qinaʻau said. “Additionally, the fellowship has contributed to less worry and stress over how to pay bills during a year where dissertation demands are high. Mahalo nui loa to everyone involved who made this happen!”

UH Mānoa’s 2023 awardees

• Erin McConkey is an anthropology student in the College of Social Sciences. McConkey’s dissertation explores the sociomaterial entanglements surrounding the production and use of snake antivenom in Thailand. It critically examines how human and nonhuman relationships transform medico-scientific ideas about the body, medicine and labor. McConkey hopes her work will bring to light avenues for reducing the number of snakebites and improving access to safe and effective treatment.
• Joanne Qinaʻau studies psychology in the College of Social Sciences. Qinaʻau’s dissertation is an offering to ancestors, outlining detriments, supports, states and outcomes of wellbeing for Native Hawaiians who have behavioral health challenges. Highlighting the stress of settler colonialism and the need for ecological pono (morality, righteous, just) and relational pilina (relationships), their work aims to inform intervention design. Preliminary measures can also be adapted for therapeutic or research purposes, while the empowerment materials contribute to kaiāulu using a participatory approach.
• Randi Rollins is a zoology student in the School of Life Sciences. Rollins’ research focused on the ecology of rat lungworm. Parasitic nematodes infect 1.5–3.5 billion people worldwide. Human infection is closely associated with economic status and disproportionately affects economically disadvantaged people, especially in tropical/subtropical and developing countries. Having graduated in August, Rollins started a postdoctoral position at UH on a National Institutes of Health-funded project to discover treatments/preventative compounds for rat lungworm disease.
• Amy Var is a learning design and technology student in the College of Education. Var’s dissertation study: Examining Technology Integrated Higher-Order Thinking Practices at Title I Public Middle Schools aims to better understand how teachers use technology to promote higher-order thinking in disadvantaged settings where the literature suggests such practices are lacking and, in doing so, shine a light on innovative, exemplary practices, thereby promoting social justice through digital equity.
• 
  

https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2023/10/26/founder-region-fellowship-grants-2023/

Founder Region Fellowship is a non-profit organization that advances the Soroptimist mission by awarding grants to outstanding women in the final phase of their doctoral program within Founder Region. Fellowship recognizes the value of empowering highly motivated women engaged in academic research in fields such as: science, technology, education, the climate, women's health and all things affecting women and girls' quality of life.

Founder Region is one of 28 regions of Soroptimist International of the Americas (SIA) with territory encompassing:

• 10 Northern California Counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Napa, Solano, Sonoma 
• The State of Hawaii
• The U.S. Territories of Guam & the Northern Mariana Islands
• The Republic of Palau

 
Applicants apply through an online portal, which will be open from November 1, 2023 to January 15, 2024.  Refer to the "Colleges" page to see if your institution qualifies. 

INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS 
To learn more, please  attend one of two informational meetings via Zoom, Thursday, November 2, 2023 at 2:00pm (PST) or Sunday, November 12, 2023 at 6:00PM (PST) to learn about our organization and how to apply for one of our grants.

If you have any questions, please email 2022.2024fellowship@gmail.com.

Founder Region Fellowship kicked off the 2023 Conference with the Fellows Reception followed by the Awards Dinner and Gala where we awarded 10 outstanding women with a record $10,075 each to commemorate our 75 Year Diamond Jubilee Anniversary.  To date, Founder Region Fellowship has provided 363 women with a little over 1.7 million dollars in funding to help them achieve their doctoral degrees. THOSE ARE SOME NUMBERS OF WHICH WE CAN BE VERY PROUD!

Thank you to our members and clubs, who continually find value in the Fellowship Program and provide the funds that help the best and brightest women become change makers.  We want to thank each and every one of you for supporting our fundraisers and for making donations either through monthly giving or direct donation to become a Fellow, or level up.

Below are the pinning's and drawings that occurred at the 2023 Founder Region Conference.

Thank you from the 2022-2024 Fellowship Board.

Nehal Eldeeb - UC Berkeley, Joanne Qina`Au - UH Mānoa, Amy Var - UH Mānoa., Teena Bajaj - UC Berkeley,  Jennifer Taylor Edens - CSU East Bay,  Babalwa Kwanele - CSU East Bay.  Randi Rollins - UH Mānoa,   Alina Nguyen - UC Berkeley, Erin McConkey - UH Mānoa  (not pictured), Jasmine Jan - UC Berkeley (not pictured).
Download the Fellowship program to see more information. 

The SI Pin Brooch Auction is an opportunity for you to purchase these beautiful decorative pins and support Fellowship's fundraising efforts. The auction is OPEN NOW and closes on April 15. "Buy it Now" options are also available at $75.  All purchases of $75 or more count toward the "75 Year Diamond Jubilee Campaign" and get you entered into a Fellow drawing at conference.

There will still be more smaller pins to purchase at conference but this is the end of our supply. The SI pins are no longer available so don't miss out.

Happy bidding!

Please join us in participating in the 2023 Virtual Fun Run/Walk for Fellowship. Become a sponsor for $250 and have your business spotlighted on the Race Roster event page and on the Fellowship social media pages & website. Contact President Kris to reserve your sponsorship.

Team up with your club members to run/walk and have some fun while supporting Founder Region's identifying project. See event page for all the information. 

Founder Region Fellowship, Inc. invites you - Soroptimist Clubs, Soroptimist members and businesses in our communities - to become a SPONSOR of Founder Region Fellowship. Our vision is to improve the lives of women and girls locally and globally by awarding fellowships to women who will truly make a difference in the world. We offer grants to women attending educational institutions within our Region such as: UC Berkeley, CSU East Bay, St. Mary’s, College and University of Hawaii at Manoa to name a few.

We invite you to partner with us by contributing $1,000, $2,500, $5,000 or $10,000 to help support this program, so we can help more women in the final phase of their doctoral programs. There are several opportunities to advertise your business at our Friday night Reception and our Awards Gala.  Anticipated attendance of 350 will include members from throughout Founder Region, our Official Visitor from our Federation, as well as local speakers and dignitaries, and will take place at the Oakland City Center Marriott Hotel.

 (Includes signage at Fellow Reception and logo on social media)

(Includes 1/2 page black/white ad in Fellowship Program, signage at Fellow Reception & Award’s Gala, logo on website and social media)

¨ Premium Full Page Color Ad in Fellowship commemorative program booklet
¨ Premium banner placement around convention area (sponsor to provide banner)
¨ Premium logo placement on all media mentions
¨ Option to provide promotional item on tables during Fellowship Dinner & Gala
    (sponsor to provide 350 items)

Fellowship Grant Sponsor
Name on Fellowship Grant Certificate and on screen during presentation
¨ Premium Full Page Color Ad in Fellowship commemorative program booklet
¨ Premium banner placement around convention area (sponsor to provide banner)
¨ Premium logo placement on all media mentions
¨ Option to provide promotional item on tables during Fellowship Dinner & Gala
   (sponsor to provide 350 items)
¨ Logo listed on website in perpetuity

Contact us for more information:
Kris Chorbi, President - kchorbi5@yahoo.com                                  
Danelle Tegarden, Treasurer - FRFellowshipTreasurer2022.2024@ gmail.com
Please email your business card or camera-ready ads (jpeg or pdf format) to President Kris by  April 14, 2023.                     

Happy Holidays!
Even though #Giving Tuesday officially occurred in November, your philanthropic giving can continue throughout this holiday season.  Please consider donating to Founder Region Fellowship's  "75 Year Diamond Jubilee Fundraising Campaign".  See campaign details here.

Fellowship is unique to Founder Region and has been empowering highly educated women for 75 years. Fellowship recognizes the value of empowering highly motivated women engaged in academic research in fields such as: science, technology, education, the climate, women's health and all things affecting women and girls' quality of life. Read about our past winners to see the impact of our Fellowship grants.

The online portal is open now and applications are pouring in. We need your help to continue the legacy of advancing the status of women through financial support in the final phase of their doctoral programs.  Support this worthy endeavor today!  

 President Kris and the Fellowship Board thank you for your continued support and wish you peace and joy all season long. Happy Holidays!

Thank you to all our clubs for supporting the Fellowship Fundraiser and our merchandise sales at the District Meetings last month. Fellowship is almost completely supported by our members and we could not help women in the final phase of their doctoral programs without you.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

District I & II members raised enough funds to draw 6 Fellows. Congratulations to new Fellows:
Dorothy Andrews - SI/Central Solano
Linda Quilici - SI/The Delta
Alicia Cook - SI/Vallejo
Billie Knight - SI/The East Bay
Judy Christianson - SI/Richmond
Bonnie Mertz - SI/The East Bay

Special thanks to Linda Glanz, SI/Dixon, who made a donation to reach a Level 2 Fellow.    
The Fellowship Directors will reach out to you to make arrangements to present your certificate and pin. CONGRATULATIONS!

MONTHLY GIVING
Thank you to the following members who signed up for Monthly Giving:
Jennifer Chiarelli– Martinez
Mary Dickey - SI/Vacaville
Marion Rojo - SI/The East Bay
Lisa McCalka – SI/The Tri-Valley

75th ANNIVERSARY DONORS
Thank you to these members who instantly supported our "75 Year Diamond Jubilee Campaign":
Billie Knight - SI/The East Bay
Deborah Roden - SI/Rio Vista
Evelyn Nodal - SI/Rio Vista
Jackie De Vries - SI/Vacaville
Jennifer Chiarelli - SI/Martinez
Joy Swank - SI/Vacaville
Kristin Einberger - SI/American Canyon
Linda Green - SI/Dixon
Mary Dickey - SI/Vacaville
Sandy Esparza - SI/Vacaville

We raised enough funds with the Fellowship Raffle to draw 5 Fellows at the District III & IV Meeting. Congratulations to the new Fellows:
 Judy Mullins—SI/Clear Lake
Mary Ellen Hester—SI/Calistoga
 Sally Munger—SI/Clear Lake
Peggy Dimmick—SI/Arcata
Lisa Perry—SI/Crescent City

Special thanks to Joan Mora, SI/Windsor, who made a donation to reach a Level 5 Fellow.

The Fellowship Directors will reach out to you to make arrangements to present your certificate and pin. CONGRATULATIONS!

MONTHLY GIVING 
Thank you to the following members who signed up for Monthly Giving and received a special bee keychain gift: New Monthly Giving Donors:
Laurie Gallian—SI/Sonoma Valley
Ana Booker—new member from SI/West Sonoma County
Crystal Arbuthnot—SI/The Redwoods
Vicki Dillard—SI/Arcata
Danelle Tegarden—SI/Eureka

District V members raised enough funds to draw 2 Fellows. Congratulations to new Fellows
Denise Ridge - WI/Waikiki Foundation
Catheryn Dean - friend of SI/Honolulu

Special thanks to Cindy Rasmussen, SI/Waikiki Foundation, who made a donation to reach a Level 3  Fellow.

The Fellowship Directors will reach out to you to make arrangements to present your certificate and pin. CONGRATULATIONS!

MONTHLY GIVING
Thank you to the following members who signed up for Monthly Giving:
Angie Bugarin - SI/Central Oahu
Malia Lau - SI/Honolulu
Angie Haramoto - SI/Maui
Leona Soto, SI/Central Oahu
Elizabeth Cruz, SI/The Marianas

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

We have a big audacious fundraising goal this year - $75,000! With just a little more effort on our part, I know we can make this goal. In honor of our 75 Year Diamond Jubilee Anniversary, we are holding a special fundraising campaign to commemorate this achievement.
 
"75 Year Diamond Jubilee Fundraising Campaign" details:

• We are soliciting all Fellows to make a one-time donation of $75 (or more).  It may have been years since a member became a Fellow, so we hope to encourage our long standing Fellows to continue to support Fellowship.  (Non-Fellows can donate to this campaign as well.)
• If  at least 12 of your club members each donate $75 (or $900 total), whether they are a Fellow or not, your club can name a Fellow, which is a discount of $100.  Now if your club already budgets to name a Fellow every year, we hope that you will do this in addition to the individual member donations.
• All donors will be entered into a drawing to win a Fellow (or level up), be posted on a special Anniversary Page on the Fellowship Website and receive Special Recognition at the 2023 Founder Region Conference In May.  
• Donations must be received by April 1st to be recognized at Conference.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

We look forward to seeing everyone at District Meetings this October. This meeting is a major fundraiser for Fellowship. This year’s theme is Bee the Dream through Education! Here is the procedure for this year’s raffle. 

• We will be selling raffle numbers again this year, not tickets. Your Fellowship Directors will be sending each club a log of numbers to sell to club members, family, and friends.
• Members purchase numbers and fill in their contact information on the number logs 
• Every club will receive 12 extra numbers to sell.
•  If a club sells all their numbers, not counting the extra 12, they will receive 3 extra numbers into the raffle. Contact President Kris if you need more numbers.
• Before the deadline, send your completed number log and club check to your district’s Fellowship Director.
• Create a raffle basket worth at least $75.00 and bring to your district meeting. During District Meetings Check out all the wonderful baskets in the raffle.
•  Purchase more raffle numbers to win one of the beautiful baskets.

If you haven’t seen the new Fellowship website, you should really take of look! Check out some of the new features on this site:

• College page—see what eligible institutions are in Founder Region and what doctoral programs they offer.
• Fellows page—find out who is a Fellow in your club listed by district.
• Past Winners page—see Fellowship recipients from past conferences. They are quite impressive!
• And much more… www.FounderRegionFellowship.org We have also included more online resources to make it easier to support Fellowship.
• New Resources on the Fellowship website.
• Download the new Fellowship Brochure to share with club members. This would also be a great addition to your new member binders.
•  View the new Dorothy Sarnes Memorial Fund brochure to educate yourself about donations “in memory of” or “in honor of” a loved one. Special recognition will be given at conference.  
• Access the updated Donation/Fellows Form to complete when making a donation, pledge, or naming a Fellow.

We thank you for continuing to support Founder Region Fellowship!

The University of Hawaii at Manoa has published a wonderful article about the Fellowship program and their/our four 2021 Fellowship award-winning students. This article summarizes why the Fellowship Board and our members do what we do in support of this program. 

2021 awardees from left, Ashley McGuigan, Erica Molnar-Bufanda, Kendra Nip and Caitlin Williams

A doctoral fellowship presented to students whose area of study improves the lives of women and girls, and contributes to the welfare of society was awarded to four University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa students. Ashley McGuigan, Erica Molnar-Bufanda, Kendra Nip and Caitlin Williams received the Founder Region Fellowship from Soroptimist Founder Region Fellowship, Inc. The award includes $10,000 of unrestricted funds to cover expenses to complete their doctoral degrees.

For a second consecutive year, UH Mānoa led the number of fellowships received with four of the eight awardees. The recipients come from graduate schools located in the Founder Region which encompasses Northern California, Hawaiʻi, Guam, the Mariana Islands and the Republic of Palau. They each were honored at this year’s Founder Region conference in April 2021.
“This award has allowed me to continue to take care of my family while devoting more time to completing my dissertation research this school year,” said Nip, a doctoral candidate in educational psychology. “As an added benefit, I had the opportunity to connect with other women who are also pursuing their doctorates, as well as a whole network of women who are committed to enriching the lives of others through education.”