Febuary 5, 2008

Paying it forward: Better to give than to receive

By Jeanne C. Carbone
Editor

Serendipity doesn’t happen very often, but when it does the results are quite amazing. Such is the case with the women who donate their time to the Assistance League.

Assistance League members raise and donate 80 percent of their budget as well as their time to Campbell Schools. It all started with founder Chrystie De Soto [far right] in 2000, who wanted to volunteer her time. The chapter now has more than 100 members. Photos courtesy of AL

“I was looking for a volunteer organization,” said founding Assistance League [AL] member Chrystie DeSoto. “That was in 2000 and now we have over 100 members and a budget of over $100,000.”

And with that budget AL members donate more than 80 percent to Campbell Schools as well as the group’s abundant energy and enthusiasm. Projects like Clothes for Kids provide shoe vouchers and jackets to students in need. Their Scholarship Program provides elementary and middle school students with financial assistance to attend science or diabetes camps.

AL mission’s is not only the gift of items; the members shower the kids with love in all forms. In their We All Love to Explore Reading [WALTER], AL members visit elementary school classrooms every month to read and donate books for classroom use and also give books to the students to take home.

“I joined AL six years ago to participate in the reading program WALTER,” said Susan Weber, AL’s vice president philanthropic programs. “It is delightful to watch their big eyes absorb a fun story or facts about animals that they have not heard before. In the words of a student, ‘thank you for reading us cool books, funny books, even amazing books. And thank you for letting us ask questions.’”

Target Exercise and Nutrition [TEN] addresses the critical issue of childhood obesity. AL volunteers conduct a weekly walking program with Campbell fourth graders. Students walk to accrue miles for fitness and incentives. Nutritious snacks follow the walking program.

One of the first programs AL became involved in was Senior Pals. AL members Marcia Coullahan, Gloria Kahn, Louise Alkire, Happy Cookers Chair Suzy Siegler and Sue Schneider cook for Saratoga Adult Day Care Center residents.

“TEN is my favorite program with AL,” said Paris Rogers, a Campbell resident and Los Gatos High School English teacher. “During an extended recess at Rosemary Elementary School, we interact with all the fourth graders, encouraging them to run or walk laps. At every mile point, students receive prizes for their efforts. I brought a CD with Top 40 songs and the music definitely motivated the fourth graders to move faster.”

Rogers believes the implications of AL’s TEN program are promising for the future of the children who attend.

“I met some truly athletically gifted students at Rosemary, and my hope is that through the inspiration of TEN, these students will go on to participate in middle and high school sports. Who knows, maybe some of these students will develop their talents so they are able to earn college scholarships based on their athletic ability. I have seen firsthand what just the slightest bit of encouragement can do for a student,” added Rogers.

AL secretary Jane Stroud agrees and is looking forward to Dictionary Day at Campbell Union School District. AL is providing 1,500 dictionaries in English and 400 in Spanish that they will help hand out to third graders at the schools.

“Dictionary Day is fun and rewarding,” said Stroud. “As a Campbell resident it’s really good to get involved with the community. AL is a very welcoming group and has lots of different activities to get involved with. Although are chapter is designated as Los Gatos/Saratoga we spend most of our resources in the Campbell Community.”

And how does AL fund their $100,000 budget? Founding member De Soto is quick to thank 2007/2008 contributing donors Target®, Comerica Bank, Union Bank, Los Gatos Community Foundation, DeAnza Kiwanis, Los Gatos Kiwanis, The Olive Bar and Good Friends Bridge Club.

AL end of the year Target Exercise and Nutrition [TEN] party for Rosemary School kids at John D. Morgan Park features games, food and fun and walking. Photos courtesy of AL

AL president Terri Spice additionally cites the Macy’s Passport fundraiser, which netted over $4,000 and the fall mailer that brought in more than $10,000 in contributions. AL is planning future fundraising events, such as the annual Evening of Flower Arranging and Dinner on March 11 held at Bob Gilmore’s Flower and Home Accessories in Saratoga and the San Francisco Lamp-lighters performing Gilbert and Sullivan selections on May 31 complete with a live and silent auction.

While 80 percent of the proceeds are donated to Campbell Schools, AL members are involved in other philanthropic projects. Their Warm Hands-Giving Hearts program supplies infant formula, disposable diapers, books, clothing and educational toys to families who are identified by the Santa Clara County Public Health nurses. There’s an incentive program for the mothers who are rewarded with the items for smoking cessation, doctor’s appointments, etc.

AL Senior Pals teams plan, shop for and prepare nutritious lunches four days a week at the Saratoga Adult Day Care Center. They also organize a craft program and provide entertainment at the center. And in conjunction with the Live Oak Nutrition Center, AL volunteers plan and provide craft projects and entertainment on a monthly basis.

The Assistance League has its roots in the great San Francisco earthquake of 1906. Moved by the plight of those ineligible for assistance from existing relief organizations, Mrs. Hancock Banning organized a Southern California relief unit named "The Assistance League." This organization continued its volunteer activities through World War I, culminating in the founding of the first chapter in 1919.

The organization expanded its community service and refined its philanthropic philosophy, and in 1935, the National Assistance League was organized with the vision of a nationwide effort. AL now has more than 119 chapters and guilds and has developed over 750 philanthropic programs to assist children, seniors, families and those in need.

AL member Marilyn Manies reads to third graders at Rosemary Elementary School.

Operation School Bell started nearly 50 years ago to provide clothing to disadvantaged children; it is now the signature national philanthropic program for AL. Locally, the AL Operation School Bell is geared to elementary school children in the Los Gatos, Campbell and Moreland School Districts providing clothing for underprivileged children.

The Assistance League in Los Gatos-Saratoga is the 110th chapter of the National Assistance League and was formed in September 2000 by De Soto. They have over 100 members who provided more than 13,000 volunteer hours of community service last year. They are dedicated to meeting, identifying and addressing local community needs.

“This is my true passion,” said De Soto regarding her membership in AL. “I’ve never met a nicer group of women to work with. And it’s so rewarding to give back to the community.”

For more information on the local chapter of AL visit www.allgs.org or call (408) 278-5300.