From left: Gerald Phillips, Field Representative of Assembly Member Chris Holden; Rita Hadjimonoukian, Field Deputy of County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, LYD award winner Sarah Elizabeth Nichols Abdus-Samad; VRA award winner Taylore Thomas; Ruby award winner Reverend Dr. Donna Byrns; and Viola Van, Field Representative, 27th Dist. Congresswoman Judy Chu.
From left: VRA award winner Taylore Thomas, LYD award winner Sarah Elizabeth Nichols Abdus-Samad, and Ruby award winner Reverend Dr. Donna Byrns with gifts from HazelsBagz.
“I want to be a voice for women who are victims of domestic violence.” These were the words of Sarah Elizabeth Nichols Abdus-Samad, the recipient of the “Live Your Dream” award from the Altadena-Pasadena chapter of Soroptimist International at a luncheon held recently at the Women’s City Club in Pasadena.
The “Live Your Dream” honor represents Soroptimist International’s signature award, and is given to a woman who is overcoming personal difficulties and is improving her life through education and skills training. Since 1972, the LYD award – formerly known as the Women’s Opportunity Award – has disbursed over $15 million worldwide and has assisted thousands of women to reclaim their dreams of a better life for themselves and their families. Altadena-Pasadena Soroptimists also honored Taylore Thomas with the Violet Richardson Award (named after Soroptimists’ first president), an honor given to a young woman between the ages of 14 – 18 who has improved her community through her volunteer efforts. And finally, Reverend Dr. Donna Byrns was given the Ruby Award for improving the lives of women and girls through her professional and volunteer work.
From left: Ruby award winner Reverend Dr. Donna Byrns; Sarah’s son; LYD award winner Sarah Elizabeth Nichols Abdus-Samad; and VRA award winner Taylore Thomas with commendations from L.A. County.
Ruby Award winner Reverend Dr. Donna Byrns is a retired minister who is currently Director of Friends Indeed, an organization that’s dedicated to meeting the needs of homeless and at-risk individuals in greater Pasadena. Very active in the peace movement, Dr. Byrns organized the Pasadena Interfaith Walk for Peace and Shoe Drive in 2012, whereby over 3000 pairs of shoes were distributed to 12 local charities. She is now creating “My Buddy’s Place,” a project that will gather and distribute clothing to those in need, including women and children. When accepting her award, she stated, “Uniting Pasadena is our goal.”
Violet Richardson Award winner Taylore Thomas volunteered with the Gamma Lambda Xinos Chapter of the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa for most of her high school years. This organization is focused on empowering high school age African-American girls and helping them succeed in life. With her sorority chapter, Taylore assisted with Union Station’s Annual Thanksgiving Dinner, among other projects. As a volunteer at the recent Martin Luther King Program in Pasadena, Taylore met with Pasadena community leaders and club members who presented awards to local students for art pieces that represented King’s objectives. In a written statement, Taylore acknowledged that her involvement with these projects “has not only improved my city, but has also
Sarah Elizabeth Nichols Abdus-Samad receives the Live Your Dream award from Soroptimist member Marilyn Stalder-Burke.
made me a more well-rounded and conscientious individual.”
Sarah Elizabeth Nichols Abdus-Samad, the recipient of the “Live Your Dream” Award, is a mother of two sons, eight and ten years old. She’s a survivor of domestic violence who left her abusive husband, and is now a single parent who provides for herself and her children with no financial support from her former spouse. “One of the reasons I’m here is that during this tumultuous time in my life, I went to Women at Work, where I got the application [to apply for the LYD award],” she commented. She began attending an Interior Design program at Cal State University, Northridge in 2008, but withdrew a year later to get therapy for her youngest son, who wasn’t able to speak. Her older son also had some academic challenges, but now both have overcome obstacles and are doing much better, she reported. In 2013, she returned to CSUN to work towards a Bachelor of Science degree in Interior Design, and said that her goal is to do design work for the underprivileged. Sarah concluded, “I’ve gained stronger faith and hope for the future.”
Soroptimist International is a global volunteer organization that works to improve the lives of women and girls in local communities and around the world. For more information, visit www.soroptimist.org.
