April 20, 2006

Teaching through example

Mothers and daughters bond while giving back to the community

National Charity League celebrates Annual Senior Presents

By Lorraine Gabbert
Staff Writer

The spectacular views, rolling hills and flowering gardens of Cinnabar Hills Golf Club set the perfect backdrop for the recent National Charity League’s Annual Senior Presents, an evening of dining, awards and poignant presentations.

NCL Almaden Blossom Valley Chapter Senior Girls posed at the recent National Charity League’s Annual Senior Presents. First Row (l to r): Emily Marie Alves, Lindsey Wagner, Jennifer Wagner, Melissa Nicol Beal, Elizabeth Fenwick, Ashleigh Adams, Lisa Nicole Georgiou, Allison Hook. Second Row (l to r): Keri Herbert, Heather Ann Sheridan, Jennifer Afflixio, Sarah Elizabeth Powell, Jenna Rose Whitecar, Victoria Blair Taylor, Jessica Marie Petro, Erica Lee Spratt. Photo courtesy of Tammy Applegate

Looking like brides with upswept hairdos and white satin gowns, 16 teenagers stood beside their proud mothers who were elegantly attired in black evening gowns.

These mothers and daughters had cause to celebrate. Together, they had completed six years of community service through the Almaden Blossom Valley chapter of the National Charity League (NCL), volunteering for local nonprofits such as the San Jose Family Shelter-Sunday Friends, Second Harvest Food Bank, Silicon Valley Habitat for Humanity and Sunnyvale Hands on the Arts.

The girls presented included Ashleigh Adams, Jennifer Afflixio, Emily Marie Alves, Melissa Nicol Beal, Elizabeth Fenwick, Keri Herbert, Lisa Nicole Georgiou, Allison Hook, Jessica Marie Petro, Sarah Elizabeth Powell, Heather Ann Sheridan, Erica Lee Spratt, Victoria Blair Taylor, Jennifer Wagner, Lindsey Wagner and Jenna Rose Whitecar.

“This evening honors the commitment and service of 16 girls,” said Dottie Surdi, who founded the chapter. “They have contributed an amazing amount of time in community service. With 100 members, our chapter provides more than 3000 hours of service a year.”

Mothers and daughters volunteer together to serve their communities setting the NCL apart from other service organizations. They also share in cultural experiences, attending plays and symphony performances, learning life skills and social etiquette along the way.

The NCL began in 1925 with a small group of Southern California women who made baby layettes for the poor, delivered food to the hungry and volunteered for the American Red Cross. As their daughters became involved, they formed an organization called the Ticktockers. In 1947, this mother-daughter philanthropy became known as the National Charity League. It has continued to grow and develop ever since.

“We are a diverse group of women coming from many different backgrounds,” said Karen Hook chapter president. “What we all share in common is our love for our daughters, and our desire to strengthen our relationship with them, while teaching them the value of giving back to our community.”

Hook has watched the girls learn compassion through community service. Through the NCL, she believes that her daughter Allison has learned the importance of empathy and giving to others. “I wanted her to do something community service related and jumped when I heard there was something we could do together,” she said. “It’s been a wonderful experience for both of us. We’ve grown closer by working together.”

NCL Senior Co-Presidents Jennifer Afflixio and Erica Lee Spratt plan to continue with community service after graduating high school. Photo by Lorraine Gabbert

They especially enjoyed participating in the Relay For Life, a walkathon to benefit the American Cancer Society; volunteering at the Career Closet, which provides clothing for disadvantaged women reentering the workforce, as well as crocheting baby blankets for little ones in need.

As the honored guests entered the banquet hall, the natural light shining through the plate glass windows lit the girls’ faces. At the formal dinner, surrounded by family and friends, the girls sat upon chairs dressed in white linen and tied with colored ribbons. Each meticulously set table featured a white cake centerpiece, which was decorated by their mothers.

Following the dinner, additional guests arriving for the multi-media presentation, stopped to admire the framed photo collages of each girl displayed on the entrance tables.

At last came the moment everyone had been waiting for, when the girls were each presented to the audience by name, with their mothers by their sides. Their families and friends applauded wildly, impressed with all they had already accomplished in their young lives.

“Through this organization, we learned the importance of empathy and a smile,” shared the girls. “We also learned that one person can make a difference. After six years with NCL, our lives have been enriched by what we have given back to our community. As graduation approaches, we look forward to continuing our community service in college and beyond.”

The evening continued with a multimedia presentation featuring heartfelt letters from each mother to her daughter, and images of her life from birth through childhood and adolescence. Personal, humorous and loving, these memories and photographs captured the fleeting moments of their child’s youth and the bonds they shared.

“Watching you grow up and develop into this beautiful young lady has been such an amazing gift to me,” said Heather’s mother, Ann Sheridan. “My heart is full of memories…precious treasures that I will cherish forever. You have so much to look forward to and so much to contribute to this world. As you go forward, just remember to trust your instincts, follow your dreams, love like you’ve never been hurt, dance like no-one is watching, and know that you are loved.”

Seniors Jennifer Afflixio and Erica Lee Spratt have enjoyed their experience with the NCL and plan to continue to be involved with charitable organizations in the future.

“The NCL is a great charity, and a great bonding experience with your mom,” said Afflixio. “Even if you’ve had a busy month, there’s still that one day you can spend time with your mom and other moms and daughters.”

Spratt agrees. “It concentrates on the teen years when moms and daughters sometimes lose that bond and keeps them close,” she added.

During their presentation, the girls took time to thank their mothers. “We would like to thank our moms for all the valuable life lessons they have taught us,” said the seniors, “and to remind them, as we start the next chapter of our lives, that the gifts they have given us are eternally embedded in our hearts and minds.”

It was a special evening for NCL Almaden Blossom Valley Chapter Senior Girls. Pictured from the left are Allison Hook, Heather Ann Sheridan, Elizabeth Fenwick, Lisa Nicole Georgiou, Victoria Blair Taylor, Jenna Rose Whitecar, Melissa Nicol Beal, Jennifer Wagner, Sarah Elizabeth Powell, Lindsey Wagner, Ashleigh Adams, Jennifer Afflixio, Erica Lee Spratt, Jessica Marie Petro, Keri Herbert and Emily Marie Alves. Photo by Lorraine Gabbert

In a show of appreciation for the love and support they received from their fathers, the evening concluded with a father-daughter dance. “Even though NCL is a charity league for mothers and daughters,” said the girls, “our fathers do not go unnoticed. Their guidance has made a positive contribution to the young women that we have become; so thank you dads for being there every step of the way.”

Surdi, the founder of the Almaden Blossom Valley Chapter, said she couldn’t have been prouder of what these 16 girls accomplished,and wished them well. “Ladies, you’re absolutely the best,” she said. “Our love and best wishes go with you. We know that you’re going to experience nothing more than continued success.”

The National Charity League (NCL) is a non-profit national organization of mothers and daughters who join together in community service with local chapters throughout the United States. For more information visit www.nationalcharityleague.org.