VISTA — The women of Soroptimists International of Vista, a charity organization dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls around the world, gathered at the Shadowridge Country Club to donate $4,000 to 11 nonprofit charities March 21.

“It is a pleasure to be able to give back to the various organizations who do so much for women in the world,” said Lenore Averell, Soroptimist and master of ceremonies.

“We have a special project we do every year to raise funds ... (This and) a portion of our monies we collect from donations and so on goes to a service fund,” said Allison Metzler, publicity officer. “This service fund has ‘X’ number of dollars every year to pick as many charities as we can afford to give to.”

This year’s honored charities ran the gamut from homeless shelters and bereavement relief agencies to city organizations. Recipients were the Bilateral Safety Corridor Coalition; the city of Vista’s two girls basketball teams; Girls Inc.; Hospice of the North Coast; Camp HOPE; Interfaith Community Service; Project CARE; Operation HOPE; REINS Therapeutic; Trauma Intervention Program; Vista Townsite Community Partnership; Welcome Home Ministries; and the Vista Art Foundation.

Good news for many at the gathering was the special announcement Jane Falcone made after receiving the donation and award for the Vista Art Gallery. Since the gallery’s Main Street location came under new ownership several months ago, rumors have been circulating that the gallery might have to move, but the negotiations have been kept private.

“We are on the verge of acquiring a beautiful new space right downtown, a much better space than we had before,” Falcone announced. “We have a lot of plans.”

According to Metzler, the $4,000 donation was disappointingly low and due to lackluster attendance at last year’s annual fundraiser.

“We partnered with another organization which supposedly had lots of people and publicity and promised a packed house,” Metzler said. “We spent a lot of money on promotion. We had expectations they didn’t meet.”

Metzler said she hopes there will be a big turnout for this year’s Annual Salad Luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 10 at the Vista Townsite Center. Pre-ordered tickets are $10 and can be obtained from Runa Gunnars at (760) 945-1734. The proceeds will go into next year’s donation fund.