MOUNT VERNON – Soroptimist International of Mount Vernon and Knox County presented its 2021 Live Your Dream Awards to two local women, Vanessa Grimaldo and Amanda Dearth. 

The Live Your Dream award provides women who serve as the primary wage earners for their families with a financial award to offset costs associated with attaining higher education.

Grimaldo, the first-place winner, and Dearth, the second-place winner, are studying nursing at Central Ohio Technical College (COTC). 

“The Live Your Dream award was created for non-traditional students,” said Becky Chamberlin, chair of the Soroptimist of Mount Vernon Live Your Dreams award committee. “The awards are for women who have overcome some struggles in their lives and are now raising their families while also going to school to make their lives better. Vanessa and Amanda were impressive applicants, and we are happy to give them these awards.”

Grimaldo said, “I am very grateful for the award. It helped with my tuition.” 

Dearth said, " The award has helped me greatly. My family and I are so appreciative to be a recipient of the Live Your Dream Award."

Soroptimist of Mount Vernon and Knox County is part of Soroptimist International, a global volunteer organization that provides women and girls access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment. The local Mount Vernon Club supports local women and girls through financial awards and educational programs.

Headquartered in Philadelphia, Soroptimist (Soroptimist.org) provides women and girls with access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment through the work of volunteers in 21 countries and territories. The Live Your Dream Awards has disbursed almost $35 million in awards to tens of thousands of women since the award-winning program began in 1972. Soroptimist also powers LiveYourDream.org, an online community that offers volunteer opportunities in support of women and girls.