Soroptimist Int'l Of Upper Montgomery County, MD (SIUMC)

Soroptimist International of Upper Montgomery County ,MD (SIUMC) is the local chapter Soroptimist International of the Americas Inc., an international volunteer organization for women whose mission is to improve the lives of women and girls, through programs leading to social and economic empowerment. For more than 50 years SIUMC has been serving Montgomery County families and children to include annual Live Your Dream Education and Training Awards to assist women with primary financial responsibility for their families to obtain the skills training and education necessary to improve their employment status and standard of living for themselves and their family.  

Since its inception in 1964, SIUMC has been a steadfast pillar of support and service in the Gaithersburg community and on April 18, 2024 received the City of Gaithersburg Outstanding Organization Award for their long-standing partnership and service.  The organization’s presence and commitment to making a difference has been felt in every corner of the City.

The Soroptimist Dream It, Be It program targets girls in secondary school who face obstacles to their future success. It provides girls with access to professional role models, career education and the resources to live their dreams. In addition, SIUMC has sponsored Human Trafficking and Domestic Violence Awareness programs in the community, formed a Girls Club for middle school and high school girls to perform community service and earn Student Service Learning (SSL) hours and volunteer at local homeless shelters in the Rockville and Gaithersburg communities.

Soroptimists participate in organization-wide programs including the Soroptimist Live Your Dream Awards,  and the Soroptimist Dream it Be It:Career Support for Girls Program.

In addition to providing women and girls with access to education, SIUMC service projects benefit the following programs: City of Gaithersburg Holiday Giving Program, Domestic Violence Prevention, Rainbow Place Womens Shelter, Interfaith Works Women's Center, and Hospice Caring, Inc. Students earn SSL hours when they participate with SIUMC members in service projects such as packing back packs for foster children at Comfort Cases or filling kids food packages at Women Who Care Ministries warehouse.