Soroptimist sees how money helps Tallac

Karen Baker, from left, Brianda Torres, Noe, and Karen Houser.

By Soroptimist International Tahoe Sierra

An passionate and articulate view of Mt. Tallac High School was presented by Susan Baker to the Soroptimist International of Tahoe Sierra Thursday morning.

“This club has been there for us since its inception 11 years ago, and I’m here to thank you,” Baker said.

Their financial commitment has included funding for academics, counseling, mentoring, clothes, diapers and educational medical support. Since 1999, 140 students have graduated and moved on to other endeavors such as college and the work force.

A future graduate, Brianda Torres, shared her experience in the foster care program where she has been a participant since she was 10, support from CASA, and her early pregnancy at 16. Noe, a beautiful loving baby boy, was there as evidence of the care and love that she learned from being a student at Mt. Tallac.

The involvement of such professionals as Amy Jackson, formerly with Tahoe Youth & Family Services, STHS and now a counselor at Mt. Tallac has resulted in the success of Brianda, where she is succeeding and thriving using good decisions and staying in school.

Karen Houser, director of Boys & Girls Club, also spoke emphatically about, not only the B&G Club of Lake Tahoe’s association with Brianda, but also her direct knowledge of the fabulous mother and person Brianda has become as a result of the connection with Mt. Tallac.

Susan Baker believes that her next mission in life will be to continue her program focusing on prevention of teen pregnancy through the “Circle of Hope” which is in place at the Bijou Elementary School, but she has hopes of extending the self-esteem based program to the other schools in LTUSD.

Several members of Soroptimist International of Tahoe Sierra stated their pride in their long association with this program and how an early member (Estelle) was strategic in appropriating the Yellow Cab Company in this town to provide transportation which now is being supplied by BlueGo.

Brianda spoke to the crowd to share and show appreciation for the hard work of fund raising that SITS does and show that it does reap rewards in responsible future citizens.