About SISCSV
Soroptimist International Santa Clara Silicon Valley club sponsors or participates in the following programs:
Live Your Dream Award
This inspirational program offers recognition and cash awards to women returning to school while heading their household. Local winners go on to compete for regional and international honors.
Dream It, Be It
A program to help girls identify their Dreams and achieve them using short and long term goals. The program teaches how to be strong and successful through adversity. Our program has expanded to prepare the girls with professional basic Self Defense instructors. We provide access to various professional career role models. High school seniors have the opportunity to apply for a scholarship resources to help with their next step of their career dream, college/secondary education.
Fundraising for SISCSV:
The Classy Bag Affaire
The club holds one major fundraiser each year. The event entails a purse auction, luncheon, and baskets full of exciting contents every year. Many attendees come dressed to the nines in spring attire. All the members of SISCSV participate in this well loved community event that provides funding for our projects.
Additional support for SISCSV comes from small community fundraising events, the city of Santa Clara grants, Mission City Community Fund, Safeway, Rotary, and generous donations from club friends in our Silicon Valley community.
Family Assistance Christmas Store
Each year more than 275 children have a brighter Christmas. Parents or Guardians for students at local schools come to the SISCSV Christmas Store. The doors open with appointment times for the families. SISCSV to stock the “store” with new toys, games, household items, and food products. In addition, each child receives a Christmas stocking filled with toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, and mouthwash. This event is a very heart-warming experience for all of our members. A typical year serves over 100 families. Excess items are shared with other family oriented community Christmas programs: Toys for Tots, local firehouse toy drives etc..
Club Leadership
President:
Emma Brunner
Vice President:
Flordelisa “Flor” Harris
Treasurer:
Julie Babcock
Board Director:
Karen Hardy
Board Director:
Michele Paolini
Secretary:
Flora Freitas
Emma Brunner | President
Emma Brunner grew up in Washington state on Fox Island. She graduated from West Valley College with an Associates in Psychology and Sociology. Obtained a BA in Psychology and MBA from California State University Monterey Bay. In 1995 she began working in Silicon Valley in start-ups to the stock market. Since 2009 she has been with venture capital. Her current work project is starting a wine company. Emma joined Soroptimist in 2018. She has served on the Board of Directors, Vice President, Treasurer, and chaired the Dream it Be it program.
Flordelisa “Flor” Harris | Vice President
Flordelisa “Flor” Harris is an insurance broker and consultant for small companies and founded Benefits Simplified, LLC over 10 years ago. She is passionate about helping and serving others in her business and personally through volunteer work. Flor has been with SISCSV for the last two years and has served as Director and is currently the Vice President. Previously, Flor served on the NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners) of Silcon Valley board in various positions, including Membership, Programs, and President. Flor is excited about this opportunity to help elevate SISCSV to empower and educate the women we serve!
Julie Babcock | Treasurer
Julie Babcock, CPA, graduated from San Diego State University in 1995 with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. She has been in the accounting industry for over 25 years. Julie manages closely held businesses in the real estate, property management and professional services for CBIZ. Julie joined SISCSV in 2017. Julie has been an active member of the club’s Board (President, 2023-2025, Treasurer, 2019-2023, 2025). Julie is also the Sierra Pacific Region’s Finance Chair.
Karen Hardy | Board Director
Served as vice president and is now a director.
“S Club” advisor at Wilcox from 2006 to 2020.
Teacher of mathematics and computer science at Wilcox High School 2007 to 2025.
Wilcox Robotics Coach 2010 to present.
City of Santa Clara Council Member 2018 to present.
Michele Paolini | Board Director
Michele grew up in the East Bay before heading to USC for a Bachelor’s in English and later to the University of Alabama for a Master’s in Communications. She spent 17 years teaching high school English in San Diego before returning to the Bay Area and moving into her current job, working as a Yearbook Representative for Varsity Yearbook. Michele is currently loving serving as the club’s “Sunshine Lady”.
