History of Soroptimist International of Canton/Stark County

Soroptimist International, Inc., is a worldwide organization of classified service clubs, which unites outstanding professional and executive business women in activities that make a difference in the lives of women and girls. In cooperation with other organizations, Soroptimists seek to advance international understanding, goodwill, and peace.

The name Soroptimist was derived from Latin and is translated as “best of women, best for women.”

The first Soroptimist club was formed in Oakland, CA, in 1921. Now about 95,000 Soroptimists in more than 120 countries and territories contribute their time and financial support to community-based projects benefiting women and girls.

Soroptimist International of Canton-Stark County was chartered on June 9, 1941 (in the midst of WWII), by Soroptimist International of Akron, which also chartered a Soroptimist Club in Cleveland. Cleveland lost its charter in 1991; Akron in 2003. Dr. Marie Keener, our lone surviving charter member, was among the more than two dozen business and professional women from the greater Canton area that met at the Hotel Onesto in Canton for the chartering ceremony.

The Canton club, throughout the years, has twice sponsored Venture clubs for young women. In the early years the club gave no-interest loans to qualified nursing students. This loan program was later expanded to include the entire health field.

The club also has participated in the Soroptimist Federation of the Americas identifying projects: currently the Women’s Opportunity Award and the Violet Richardson Award and, previously, the Youth Forum/Seminar and Youth Citizenship Award. They also participate in the Midwestern Region project, the Virginia Wagner Award.

Club members have also participated in the Federation’s project to end Domestic Violence and, more recently, the Stop Trafficking project. Along with the club donations to and support of the area Domestic Violence Shelter, in the past we have adopted Shelter families moving into a community environment. Other projects have included teddy bears and backpacks for Foster Children in transition and (for more than a dozen years) personal care packages for rape crisis victims.

The club also has honored outstanding women (both from the community and club) since the late 1970s.

Club members have faithfully attended conventions, regional conferences, and district meetings. Several club members have served on the regional board and in various district leadership capacities. Canton has hosted Spring Conferences and District meetings in the past.

The club currently has a Friendship Link in Onomichi, Japan. In the 1980s, the Hornsby, Australia club was also a Friendship Link for our Canton club.

(History by Patricia Dugan)