SI Bloomington Normal
President: Sandra Groves
Soroptimist International of Bloomington-Normal (SIBN) was founded on November 4, 1987 celebrating its 35th Anniversary in 2022. Our membership includes a diverse group of dynamic women committed to improving the lives of women and girls both locally and throughout the world as part of Soroptimist International of the Americas.
Highlights of Club’s Activities
Club 250 Raffle – our major fundraiser implemented in 2019, funds our SIA Live Your Dream/MWR Virginia Wagner educational awards, and the SIBN Barb Hoegger Memorial Scholarship at Heartland Community College. Having this year round raffle has raised the community awareness of our mission while assisting local women pursue their education goals.
Dream It, Be It – This program focuses on career awareness and education for young girls partnering with the Boys and Girls Club Teen Club and Western Avenue Community Center Hispanic Outreach. Spring 2024 will feature a Dream Girls Career Conference at Illinois State University’s Alumni Center cosponsored with Western Avenue Community Center and the Boys and Girls Club of Bloomington-Normal.
Dream It, Reach It – This program focuses on career development for women re-entering the workforce after experiencing incarceration, homelessness, trafficking, or other life interrupting events. Our current DIRI is partnering with the YWCA’s Labyrinth Outreach Services with a 6-week program. Additional programs are being developed with other social service organizations.
Projects/Philanthropy – We have volunteered at local shelters for women survivors of human trafficking and domestic violence, provided supplies for Dreams are Possible preparing women for sustainable economic employment, organized community bra collection campaigns for local organizations working with women, assisted with the Family Community Resource Center’s Etiquette and Manners program for young girls with Western Avenue, a support fundraiser partner for community organizations helping women such as YWCA Stepping Stones Rape Crisis Center, Women Build and Hero House through Habitat for Humanity, and Mid Central Community Action’s Countering Domestic Violence programs.
Socials – SIBN has fun, too! Members have coffee together, take water aerobics, hikes, and walks together, enjoy painting n’ wine events, host a summer pizza picnic and fall brat socials. We support other non-profits social/fund raiser events such as Habitat’s Women Build Bunco Night, YWCA Stepping Stone’s Trivia Night, That’s What She Said Show with Western Avenue Community Center as a charity partner, YWCA’s Circle of Women Luncheon/Women of Distinction Dinner, Boys & Girls Club Be Great Breakfast, and Professional Women of McLean County Casino Night.
Club Meetings – Business meetings are held on the first Monday (except holidays) of each month at 5:30. For more information, please contact soroptimistbn@gmail.com or see our Facebook page