Type the word “soroptimist” into Dictionary.com and you’ll get “No results found.”
So let me help you out.
Christine Lynn. Barb Schmidt. The late Gloria Drummond. These names define soroptimist.
Oh and also Barbara Cambia, Evelyn Falconer, Christina Leone, Nikki Adams, Karina Gomez, Kasia Maslanka, Nancy Aronson, Meryll Bangsil, Alexcia Cox, Donna Biano-Gutierrez, Michelle Kenney, Kim Kent, Brittney Kocaj, Alexis Lannan, Carol Schneider, Catherine Walker, Holly Wilson, Renata Sans de Negri, Kelly Fleming, Olivia Hollaus, Marybeth Keenan, Denise Panariello, Anne Vegso and all of the dynamos nominated and awarded over the past 48 years at the Soroptimist International Boca Raton-Deerfield Beach Women of Distinction Breakfast. On Oct. 11, the names above were the volunteers celebrated and honored in front of city and charity leaders and supporters who gathered at Boca West Country Club.
The Boca Raton-Deerfield Beach chapter is part of Soroptimist International’s global volunteer organization with a network of about 66,000 club members in 120 countries, all advocating for human rights and gender equality while supporting victims of sex trafficking, domestic violence and poverty.
Soroptomists are optimists, activists and philanthropists who transform the lives and status of women and girls through education, empowerment and enabling opportunities.
Christine Lynn, the 2023 Soroptimist International Women of Distinction Breakfast Honorary Chair, lives a life of service and has touched this community in countless ways, especially when it comes to healthcare and education. She serves as Board Chair for Boca Raton Regional Hospital, Board Chair of Lynn University and is also a member of the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing Advisory Board.
Lynn presented the 2023 Gloria Drummond Lifetime Achievement Award to Barbara Schmidt for Schmidt’s extraordinary service throughout Boca Raton. The award is named for Gloria Drummond who selflessly turned a personal tragedy in 1962 into a mission to help others as she was instrumental in creating the Debbie-Rand Foundation and Boca Raton Community Hospital (now Boca Raton Regional Hospital).
Schmidt, known to thousands on social media as “Peaceful Barb,” is an international best-selling author, speaker, mindset coach, meditation teacher, podcast host and co-founder of the nonprofit Peaceful Mind Peaceful Life. Her reach starts in Boca Raton from universities to hospitals and organizations and extends throughout the world in the wellness, mindfulness and meditation spaces. Schmidt inspires and empowers in just about everything she creates and delivers. We are truly fortunate to have Barb and Christine in our Boca sphere.
Anne Vegso, Barbara Cambia, Kim Kent and Kasia Maslanka took home the event’s top volunteer awards and the organization also celebrated 60 years of service in the Boca Raton-Deerfield Beach community. Learn more about Soroptimist International Boca Raton-Deerfield Beach and its Live Your Dream Scholarship and Dream It, Be It Mentor Program at soroptimist4women.org.
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