Six Single Moms Win Capitola Soroptimists 2026 Live Your Dream Awards
Soroptimist International of Capitola-by-the-Sea has selected six single
mothers as winners of its 2026 Live Your Dream (LYD) program awards.
Each winner will receive a cash award that they can use for anything
that enables them to complete their education, such as rent, medical
bills, child care and car repairs.
The Soroptimist International of Capitola-by-the-Sea 2026 Live Your Dream winners are:
Vanessa Orona
Vanessa Orona, 36, of Aptos, is a single mother of four who is pursuing
a degree in Human Services. Having grown up on government assistance and
now having to temporarily accept the same fate for herself and her
children, she is determined to break that generational cycle and get an
education so that she can support her family.
“I want to help others who also struggle with substance and domestic
abuse. like I did, by becoming a drug and alcohol counselor,” she wrote
in her LYD application. “I am going to graduate and find a career that
will not only be my passion but will help me become financially
independent.”
Sofia Flores Garcia
child and is studying general business while working part time. Her
dream is to open a coffee shop in Santa Cruz that features speciality,
origin coffee and is a safe and healthy place for community events. She
would like to host weekly talks on topics such as respectful parenting
and mental and physical health presentations by professionals.
“So, I dream for my community and myself, a place where we can find
resources and support and where we cultivate our minds through arts,
music and culture from different places,” she wrote. “A place of growth,
inner growth.”
Marianella Guevara
Marianella Guevara, 47, of Aptos, works full-time to support herself,
her mother and her teenage daughter while studying to become a certified
professional coach. She wants to develop a practice to help women who
are going through painful stages of their lives.
“Having this complete certification will give me the knowledge,
methodologies, techniques, security, trust and endorsement that I need
to carry out my plan to develop my own mentoring and coaching business,”
she explained in her LYD application.
Anonymous
This winner’s name is being withheld at her request. She is 31, of
Aptos, and the single mother of one child. She is studying psychology
with an emphasis on criminal justice.
Brittani
Brittani (her last name is withheld at her request), 37, of Watsonville,
is a former housekeeping entrepreneur, single mother of two daughters,
and is currently studying nursing. After becoming a single parent, she
decided she needed to come up with a long-term plan for herself and her
two daughters. She wants to become a labor and delivery nurse supporting
women delivering their babies.
“I love people, am extremely empathetic, excel at therapeutic
communication and extending compassion,” she wrote in her LYD
application. “Nursing seems like a great outlet for my nurturing
personality, and offers the stability I desperately want to offer my
daughters.”
Alexandra Henry
Alexandra Henry, 31, of Santa Cruz, is a single mother of one child who
experienced a neurological medical condition. She is pursuing a career
as a Physician Assistant with a focus on comprehensive human physiology,
from cellular processes to nervous system function.
“I am committed to integrating trauma-informed care, cultural
understanding and whole-person approaches into medical practice,” she wrote.
Soroptimists, United Way and Girls, Inc. Host Teen Girls in Watsonville
Soroptimist International Clubs of Capitola-by-the-Sea and Watsonville, United Way of Santa Cruz County and Girls, Inc. of the Central Coast, recently teamed up to host nearly 20 teen girls at a “Dream It, Be It,” event at the Watsonville YWCA. The program is designed to give girls the tools they need to achieve their education and career goals, empowering them to break cycles of poverty, violence, and abuse.
Ranging in age from 12-17, the teen girls from as far away as Greenfield, got career ideas and educational and training advice from 10 professional women from a variety of occupations including a financial planner, physical therapist, school administrator, esthetician, dental hygienist, police sergeant, postmaster, dental office manager, community development director, and real estate broker.
Guest speaker Renee Mello, owner of Renee Mello & Associates Real Estate, told the girls to create a strategy and expect ups and downs in pursuing their dream careers. She also warned that friends and even family members may try to discourage them.
“Some people may not want you to succeed because it makes them jealous,” she said. “But don’t let anyone keep you from living your dream.”
The girls were also served lunch and received gift bags with assorted toiletries, cosmetics and hair accessories.
Soroptimist International of Capitola and Watsonville are part of a global volunteer organization that provides women and girls with access to the education and training they need to achieve economic empowerment; United Way ignites the community to give, advocate and volunteer so that youths succeed in school and life, residents are healthy, and families are financially independent; Girls, Inc. of the Central Coast’s mission is to inspire all girls to be strong, smart and bold and to respect themselves and the world around them.
Here are testimonials from previous Live Your Dream winners:
“I greatly appreciate the Live Your Dream award for so many reasons, not only for the financial stability but all of the unforeseen blessings that followed. The amazing ladies at Soroptimist gave me a special gift by lifting me up and celebrating me for my courage and strength to start my life over as a newly single mother in recovery and as a student at Cabrillo. Today my son and I are thriving in Santa Cruz; I transferred to UCSC (during the pandemic) and majoring in Community Studies. Any chance I get to pay things forward to the less fortunate, I take advantage of because I know how special I felt when I received the Live Your Dream award.” — Jamie S., 2019 Live Your Dream winner
“Having the honor of meeting my local Soroptimists was the greatest reward after achieving the Live Your Dream award. They are an amazing group of kind, resourceful, and supportive women who encourage other women to conquer their dreams and goals. The grant was also extremely helpful to my children and I so that we could get by with our basic needs and so mom can continue to step up to the plate and tackle her educational and career goals. Thank You Soroptimists! My children and I are forever grateful!” — Mary D., 2022 Live Your Dream Winner
“When I became the winner of the live your dream award, not only did it help me tremendously financially, but it gave me the hope and acknowledgment I needed to feel confident that this is the path I am supposed to be on and that living my dream is possible. Thank you Capitola Soroptimist’s for aiding me on my path to living my dream!” — Gigi M., 2022 Live Your Dream Winner
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Dream It, Be It
The Dream It, Be It: Career Success for Girls program will help girls grow up to be strong, successful, happy adults. This 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.
Soroptimist clubs work in partnership with girls in small groups or a conference setting to provide them with the information and resources they want and need to be successful. The topics covered include career opportunities, setting and achieving goals, overcoming obstacles to success and how to move forward after setbacks or failures.
Other Soroptimist of Capitola-by-the-Sea Programs
Stop Human Trafficking—our club partners with the Santa Cruz Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW-SCC) to raise awareness of sex trafficking locally and around the world through workshops and other special events.
LiveYourDream.org Online Community
LiveYourDream.org is an online activist network community of people who wish to support woman and girls in their quest to lead better lives, while gaining inspiration in their own lives. Anyone can sign up, members and non-members!
Check out the YouTube video below, then choose your cause and course of action based on how much time or resources you have to give (e.g., donate, share, pledge, advocate, take action offline).
Sign up today on the liveyourdream.org website, and become part of a self-motivated online volunteer and activist network that offers flexible advocacy and action opportunities to improve the lives of women and girls and help them live their dreams!
For inspiring articles, personal stories, tips and resources on education, career, finance and lifestyle, visit the LiveYourDream.org blog.
See more exciting fund-raising news on our fund-raising page!