Soroptimist International of Bellevue Metropolitan recognized Rosemarie Cross of Shoreline and Alene Bouranova of Kirkland with the Women’s Opportunity Award and Violet Richardson Award, respectively, on March 27, at their annual awards dinner held at The Big Fish Grill.
Rosemarie Cross was honored as the 2012 Women’s Opportunity Award recipient. The award provides women, who are the primary wage earner, with financial resources to offset costs associated with their efforts to attain higher education or additional skills and training to better support their family.
Due to several unexpected life changes, Cross and her family moved to the Seattle area. No longer able to work in her past field, she went back to school and is now pursuing a degree in business technology at Shoreline Community College.
Cross displays the qualities needed to be successful in her life pursuits. Along with being head of household, a single mom, and a student, she also finds the time and energy to give to others by being active in her sons’ school and in her community.
Alene Bouranova was honored as the 2012 Violet Richardson Award recipient. The award is given to young women, ages 14-17, in recognition of their volunteer service. A matching award is given to the organization for which they volunteer.
Alene is a senior at Juanita High School where she began volunteering with Star Guild as part of her school’s CAPstone Project and has continued each year since. Star Guild is dedicated to helping local families pay for their children’s medical treatment by raising money for uncompensated care at Seattle Children’s Hospital.
Having gone through treatments at Children’s when she was younger, she knows firsthand how draining treatments can be for both the patients and the parents. Alene discovered the joy of helping others and knows that every person matters when it comes to volunteering.
Soroptimist International of Bellevue Metropolitan covers the greater Eastside and is part of Soroptimist International of the Americas, which was founded in 1921. or more information about Soroptimist International or how you can join, contact Sherry Schuler at 425-614-2749.
