The Ruby Award honors women who, through their professional or personal efforts, are making a difference in the lives of women and girls. Their work has had a significant impact on other women by inspiring and encouraging them.

Erin Queen has mentored girls on and off the volleyball court for over 10 years. She has been instrumental in helping to create some very amazing strong, fair and able young women in our community. To show a strong female influence especially for her daughter, Erin began coaching girl’s volleyball before Bailey was old enough to join. Erin guided Bailey and her teammates through the trials and tribulations of sport, winning, losing, team spirit, puberty, teen years and so on.

At one time in Erin’s coaching career, she had a student who was forced from her home, tried living with grandparents who weren’t able or willing to be there for this girl. Erin made sure she had rides, clothes and anything else that a girl might need to thrive. She recently was “friended” by this young woman on Facebook and was gratified to find she is doing well with a family of her own. Erin is that “Coach” and that Ruby recipient! We give that woman $250 and $250 to the entity of her choice; Erin has chosen Forks High School Volleyball Booster Club and has given them the entire amount.

Live Your Dream Award is for women who are the head of their household and pursuing education to make a better life for themselves and their family. Soroptimists assist women who provide the primary source of income for their families by giving them the resources they need to improve their education, skills and employment opportunities. Each year, our club budgets $1,000 to distribute to one recipient, who may use the funds to offset any costs associated with their efforts to attain higher education, such as tuition, books, childcare and transportation.

Lorraine Cress works with the Hoh Indian Tribe, but she is from the Pauquachin 1st Nation on Vancouver Island. She has experience working with diverse populations of adolescents and adults, both on and off of the reservation. She is attending the University of Washington and she is studying the Native Education Certificate Program and hopes to complete her studies in July 2018. She is hoping to help engage Native students, their families and communities and help the to thrive and succeed, making school and future careers relevant to the needs of Native Communities. Congratulation Lorraine, we wish you well and commend you for your efforts.