If you are looking for a volunteer organization that truly supports women, Soroptimist International of Bend may be the group for you. One of the longest-standing women’s clubs in Bend, the organization has been serving the community since 1943. With a mission of providing women and girls with access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment, members focus on causes that directly impact women, including human trafficking, intimate partner violence, women’s education, and period poverty. For decades, they have raised money to help women in the community get back on their feet and host monthly meetings that are open to the public to highlight key topics and upcoming events.
Jan Swander, president of Soroptimist International of Bend, has been a dedicated member of the organization since 1997. She has been president of the Bend chapter for the last two years. She says she loves being a part of the organization because of their commitment to empowering women through collective action.
One of the programs she is most proud of is the Live Your Dream Award that “provides cash awards for head-of-household women seeking to improve their earning potential. The award can be used toward tuition, books, childcare, carfare or any other education-related expense.” Through fundraising and a partnership with Central Electric Cooperative, the members award $2,000 to two deserving women annually.
Swander isn’t the only member who feels particularly proud of the Live Your Dream Award. Member and board director Vicki Cocanower says her favorite thing about being a part of the Soroptimist International of Bend is “hearing the stories of the women who receive the Live Your Dream Awards and following their journeys after receiving the award.”
Once the award winners are selected, they host a celebratory brunch featuring guest speakers and community members to show their support. The members of the organization go above and beyond to make sure the women who receive this award feel supported and celebrated every step of the way. To learn more about this award or to see if you qualify, visit the Soroptimist International of Bend website.
The Live Your Dream Award program is just one of the many programs the organization offers. A recent project has raised money and awareness for human and sex trafficking in the Central Oregon area. Terri Swendsen, member and vice president of the organization, has been heading this endeavor by partnering with local nonprofits such as the At Project, JbarJ, and In Our Backyard. She recently spoke at a City Council meeting to bring attention to this issue and highlight what organizations are doing to resolve it.
The list of initiatives the Soroptimist club carries out continues to grow with time. The list includes Bras for Bend, an annual drive that collects new and gently used bras to support survivors of human trafficking. A community baby shower, collecting new or gently used baby items to distribute to families in need through DHS, and their annual holiday wreath fundraiser to raise money for the Bethlehem Inn, Shepherd’s House, the Live Your Dream Award, and others. All of these projects show their immense dedication to both local and global issues.
Members say they also feel a sense of community. Swendsen says her favorite part of being in the group is, “the fellowship and opportunity to share experiences with each other.”
Every member in the group comes from a different background with and individual reasons for joining, but they all share a desire to help women. Board member Carol Laird told the Source, “Our common thread is that we care deeply about breaking the cycle of poverty and empowering women as a key part of that.”
The Soroptimist International of Bend is always looking for more members to join. Currently at 20 members, the club is open to all genders and would love to bring in fresh voices to spearhead new initiatives. They have an upcoming fundraising event, Not’cho Grandma’s Bingo, at Silver Moon Brewing on March 29 from 10am-Noon. Seats can be reserved ahead of time on Eventbrite.
This article appears in the Source February 26, 2026.
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