Benicia’s Soroptimists recently awarded checks to two domestic violence awareness groups and gave their annual “Live Your Dream” cash grant to a woman who is changing careers after a back injury.

SafeQuest Solano and STAND! For Families Free of Violence received $700 checks Thursday at the group’s annual awards luncheon from Mary Ellen Hayes, owner of the Camellia Tea Room, and the club.

Those awards come from the Bewitching Tea, a collaboration of the tea room and the Soroptimists. Last year $1,400 was raised by the club from drawing sales, and another $1,400 was raised from tea room donations.

Soroptimists gave Dana Cornelius the $1,500 Live Your Dream cash grant, for women who bear the primary responsibility for their families and who are improving their lives through additional schooling or skills training. The grants have been given since 1972.

Cornelius suffered a back injury and despite multiple surgeries has been unable to work since 2005. Recognizing that she needed to change careers, she has returned to school. That move caused her to experience some reservations but also renewed her self-esteem, an emotion she is sharing with her children so they can understand the importance of schooling, she told club members.

Soroptimists chose her for the award because of her determination to overcome challenges and provide a better life for herself and her children.

The organization chose Deanne Sandoval for the 2015 Ruby Award, named for Soroptimist Federation President Ruby Lee Minar and given in recognition of women whose professional or volunteer work improves the lives of women and girls.

Sandoval, who owns Sandoval’s Mexican Food, 640 First St., has been working behind the scenes on many projects that help Benicia women and girls and has provided direct support to those in need, club members said.

Benicia Soroptimists meet Thursdays. For information email Benicia.Soroptimist@gmail.com.