Soroptimist gives out $30,000

Kimberly Templeton, Board Member Diane Imbach, Board President Erica Eng, Grat Coordinator Alissa Nourse, Executive Director Heather Avila, Girls Project Coordinator and Cindy Archer, SISLT Community Grants Committee Co-Chair

From left: TY&FS reps Kimberly Templeton, from left, Diane Imbach, Erica Eng, Alissa Nourse,
Heather Avila, and Cindy Archer, SISLT Community Grants Committee co-chair. Photo/Provided

By Sharon Sterling

Soroptimist International of South Lake Tahoe has selected the recipients for its 2012-13 grants for community groups.

Sierra House Elementary will receive $25,000 for its Garden Dome Project. Students will erect and manage the first geodesic garden dome on the South Shore. The four-season growing structure, with passive solar heating, will be used to teach students and the greater community about nutritional awareness, food production, principles of sustainability and environmental stewardship.

The Soroptimist grant will cover the entire cost of one Garden Dome Kit. The eventual goal of the project is to erect garden domes at all schools within the district. This is the largest single grant ever awarded through SISLT’s Community Grants process.

Tahoe Youth & Family Services will receive a $5,000 grant for its existing Girls Project. The innovative program, now in its fifth year, aims to reduce bullying and teen violence among girls by pairing groups of female students from local elementary school with middle schools and high school age female mentors. The program includes weekly group meetings aimed at building self-esteem, encouraging healthy lifestyle choices and the development of supportive friendships among its participants. The Soroptimist grant will be used to expand the program, to provide transportation to program activities and teen mentoring training.

Sharon Sterling is a member of Soroptimist International South Lake Tahoe.