Soroptimist Honors Local Woman with the Ruby Award

Recently, Soroptimist International of 24/680 honored Melanie Bartoletti with their Ruby Award for her strong community service efforts with Agape Villages.

This award honors non-Soroptimist women helping women – those who make extraordinary
efforts to uplift the lives of women and girls in their community. This award gives our club and the
entire organization the opportunity to say “thank you” to these women by donating to the
community outreach they support in their name.

Melanie understands the challenges that vulnerable children face because she experienced a
difficult childhood. She came from a broken home and had minimal parental supervision and
support during her formative years. These personal experiences have instilled in her a deep
sense of empathy and a strong desire to make a positive impact on the lives of children who find
themselves in similar situations.

As a young adult, she founded a non-profit organization called Sonrise Equestrian Foundation,
dedicated to supporting children facing social, emotional, and physical challenges utilizing the
therapeutic power of horses. Some of the children were foster kids who desperately needed the
support and care they weren't receiving at home. Through this experience, she realized the vital
importance of supporting foster children and began her work with Agape Villages who shares this
commitment to the wellbeing of foster children.

Melanie believes that every child deserves a chance at a bright and secure future, regardless of
circumstances. Headquartered in San Ramon, California, Agape Villages not only addresses the
immediate needs of foster children but also provides the emotional, academic, and social support
necessary to help them thrive. The impact of this award would extends not only to the children
themselves but also to the remarkable individuals who work tirelessly to provide them with care
and support.
Agape Villages is headquartered in San Ramon, California. To learn more go to
https://agapevillages.org/ .

Founded in 1921 in Oakland, Soroptimist International is a global volunteer movement with a mission to economically empower women and girls by providing access to education, the single most effective anti-poverty intervention.

Members of Soroptimist International of 24-680 continue to volunteer our time and talents to
realize the mission of our global organization. Annually our local chapter applies our fundraising
efforts to presenting these grants to help women and girls to improve lives. We also provide
grants in our region to women in the final phase of their doctoral degree thereby affirming the
importance of the recipients' work and value as an individual in fields that have great social
importance to the world.

For more information about Soroptimist of 24-680 visit www.soroptimist24-680.org or email us at siof24.680@gmail.com . Please consider donating to our organization to support our programs
that continue to make a difference in the lives of women and girls.

Prepared by Lisa Schibler
President, Soroptimist International of 24-680
lschibler13@gmail.com
July 2024