Canton/Stark County News: 2009

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer On Sunday, October 18th, the Canton/Stark County Soroptimists joined the Canton Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk. As a team, the Soroptimist Pink Ladies raised $1005! To learn more about what Soroptimist is doing to battle breast cancer and raise community awareness, visit the Soroptimist Website. Pictured from left to right are Soroptimists Mary Nicholis, Soroptimist supporter Katie Kirby, and Soroptimists Alexandra Nicholis and Karen Zutali. Photo by Jan Jordan.

Thank you for your support! 2009 Think Pink! fundraiser a success! On Saturday, October 17th, the Canton/Stark County Soroptimists hosted its annual fundraiser. Proceeds from the fundraiser go toward scholarships awarded in the spring, as well as to club service projects. The club raised over $7,000 this year! The event consisted of a basket raffle, silent auction and live auction, as well as a special Barbie-themed fashion show provided by the Kent State University Fashion Student Organization. In addition to these components, our club recognized two outstanding women in our community, Mary Pusateri and Dr. Martha Magoon. Save the Date! We hope to see you next year for our 2010 fundraiser on Saturday, October 16th at Brookside Country Club.

Photo Coming Soon!

Soroptimist International of Canton/Stark County honors local women on October 17, 2009

Mary Pusateri (left) is this year's Woman of Distinction, and Dr. Martha Magoon (right) is this year's Ruby Award for Women Helping Women honoree. These outstanding women will be honored at the October 17, 2009, fall fundraiser at Brookside Country Club in Canton. Mary Pusateri teaches music in grades K-8 at St. Peter School in Canton including vocal, guitar, and recorder music. She directs youth musicals utilizing the Canton Player's Guild stage where she and her family often perform. Mary has been in remission from breast cancer for 7 ½ years. She dedicates her time to family, teaching, running and helping others find inspiration through her music. Martha W. Magoon, M.D., is a professor of pediatrics and associate dean for clinical education at Aultman Hospital in Canton. She also heads the undergraduate medical education and children's health programs at Aultman. Among her many accomplishments is the development of the neonatal unit to a Level III NICU.

Canton/Stark County club winners receive top honors at region conference!

Our club’s Virginia Wagner award winner, Stephanie St. Jacques and Violet Richardson winner, Karee Anderson, went on to win awards at the district and region levels! Stephanie is a student at Kent State University, studying higher education administration and Karee is a 2009 graduate of Jackson High School. To read more about these outstanding young women, click here!

Canton/Stark County News: 2008

Soroptimist International of Canton/Stark County honors local women on October 18, 2008

Thelma Slater (left) is this year's Woman of Distinction, and Beverly Jordan (right) is our club's Making a Difference for Women award recipient. These outstanding women will be honored at the October 18, 2008, fall fundraiser at Brookside Country Club in Canton. Massillon native Thelma Slater is a retired teacher and program director of the Mayor's Commission for Literacy. Jordan, who has implemented a number of programs through her work at the Stark Social Workers Network, has developed many innovative educational endeavors, among them the development of a program model for parenting bi-racial children.

Canton/Stark County club awarded $10,000!
In early June 2008, our club received grant funding from Soroptimist International
of the Americas to faciliate the project, Furnishing a Fresh Start. This project
will be carried out in conjunction with the Domestic Violence Project, Inc. of
Canton, Ohio, and will directly benefit women and children transitioning from the
shelter into new home environments. The Canton/Stark County Club received the maximum
award amount from S.I.A. headquarters, and will begin work on the project in July 2008.

Canton/Stark County Club awarded grant from Arts in Stark!

Soroptimists Alexandra Nicholis and Mary Cirelli accept a check from Arts in Stark
board member to facilitate the club's "Kimono" project (see "Projects" section).

The 2008 Fall Fundraiser was a HUGE success!

Thank you to everyone who attended the event and to those who contributed time and donations. Having raised over $8,000, we had the most successful auction in our club's history. A very special thanks goes out to the Fashion Student Organization of Kent State University, under the leadership of Laura Potter, and also to Sea Houser of The Hidden Pearl in Cuyahoga Falls for loaning the vintage apparel for the show. To all the donors, friends and supporters, we thank you! And, to Angela at Brookside, we also extend a huge thank you!