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 awards, the SIBN Barb Hoegger Memorial Scholarship at Heartland Community College, Dream It, Be It and Dream It, Reach It programs. This year round raffle has raised community awareness of our mission while assisting local women pursue their dreams.
Dream It, Be It – This program focuses on career awareness and education for young girls partnering with the Boys and Girls Club, Western Avenue Community Center, local schools. Spring 2024 featured a Dream Girls Career Conference at Illinois State University’s Alumni Center cosponsored with Western Avenue Community Center and 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 the Family Community Resource with their “That’s What Teens Say” event, a support fundraising/donations partner for community organizations helping women and girls such as YWCA Stepping Stones Rape Crisis Center, Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build, Boys and Girls Club, Mid Central Community Action’s Countering Domestic Violence programs and Youth Build.
Socials – SIBN has fun, too! Members have coffee and take walks together, enjoy Paint n’ Sip 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, , YWCA’s Circle Luncheon, and Boys & Girls Club Be Great Breakfast.
Club Meetings – Business meetings are held on the first Monday (except holidays) of each month at 5:30. For more information, please contact sibloomington.normal@soroptimist.net or see our Facebook page.