Welcome To Founder Region!

Soroptimist International is the world's largest service organization for women in business and the professions.  Soroptimists are found in one hundred and nineteen (119) countries and are over 100,000 strong.

Soroptimist International is made up of four (4) Federations: Great Britain & Ireland, Europe, the Southwest Pacific and the Americas.

Founder Region is one of twenty-nine (29) regions within Soroptimist International of the Americas.  There are fifteen (15) regions in the United States, five (5) in Japan, two (2)  in Canada and South America and one (1) each in Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines, Mexico, Central America.

Our region is composed of six (6) districts with a total of sixty six (66) clubs.

Geographically, Founder Region covers an area bounded by Soroptimist International of the East Bay in the Castro Valley-San Leandro area in the south to Soroptimist International of Crescent City near the Oregon boarder in the north.  The region is further defined by Soroptimist International of Dixon in the east through Soroptimist International of Guam and of the Northern Mariana Islands in the west.  The Territory of the Northern Mariana Islands, the State of Hawaii and the North Coastal area of the State of California are Founder Region.

The Founder Region board is elected every two (2) years in even numbered years at Founder Region conference.

The board is comprised of a Governor, Governor-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer and a District Director for each of the six (6) districts.

Founder Region is so called because the first Soroptimist club met in Oakland, California in 1921 when the Alameda County Soroptimist Club was formed.  The Constitution of that first club stated the purpose of Soroptimists was "To foster the spirit of service..."  That purpose and "spirit of service" drives every Soroptimist club, district, region and federation to this day..

The regions permanent identifying project is Founder Region Fellowship, Inc. This effort offers $25,000.00 in fellowships and grants to women enrolled in graduate schools within the bounds of Founder Region who are in the last year of their doctoral studies.

In addition to Fellowship, the region actively supports the Women's Opportunity Award and Violet Richardson Award.