July 7, 2005

By Kymberli W. Brady
Staff Writer

For many, the golden years represent a period of slowing down and settling in to the twilight stage of life. But these 62 women never got the memo. They have better things to do with their spare time.

Outgoing President Stacie Brown passes the gavel to her successor, Maureen Noel.

Don’t let them fool you. While most are retired, these former teachers, nurses, housewives, and business executives are petite powerhouses for the San Jose Assistance League, and like their predecessors, they’ve been busy.

Last year alone, their efforts, combined with those of more than 24,000 members in 29 states resulted in the dedication of over 3,000,000 volunteer hours spent clothing 135,000 schoolchildren in need, distributing more than 47,000 bears to victims of trauma, serving over 1,000 children per day in nurseries and day care centers.

They provided dental care to nearly 21,000 children, assisted nearly 47,000 seniors, enabled 45,000 children to benefit from literacy, tutoring, and reading programs, presented over 69,000 puppet programs, and provided clothing with hygiene kits to over 12,600 victims of assault.

Oh yes, let’s not forget about the nearly $13,000,000 they must raise in order to touch the lives of over 1,100,000 men, women and children each year.

Established in Los Angeles in the early 1900s, Assistance League was the first nonprofit, nonpolitical, nonsectarian organization to recognize the potential of volunteers in helping those less fortunate live to a better, more meaningful life.

“This goes way back,” said public relations chair Joyce Hughes. “They supported the war and the troops—even the 1906 earthquake,”

During their annual installation luncheon June 16, incoming President Maureen Noel welcomed Intero Realty President and CEO Gino Blefari, who presented the Assistance League with a $10,000 grant from the Intero Foundation.

“We earn our living by serving the community,” said Blefari. “And in trying to find a way to give back to the community, we set up the Intero Foundation. I wish it was more, but remember, this is not Intero making this contribution, it’s the agents and employees of Intero. I hope next year to be standing here with $20,000.”
“This will help us clothe over 400 children this year,” noted Noel.

“We review many grants over the year and we try to select those that we feel are going to serve the community,” said the Intero Foundation CFO. “Particularly children and small organizations with low overhead and mostly volunteers. We were so impressed with the work that you did and the volunteer organization that I not only sincerely approved of the grant, I wanted to be part of the membership.”

On a local level, nearly two-thirds of their annual budget is allocated to Operation School Bell [OSB], the chapter’s largest endeavor to date, according to Education Chair and Public Relations committee member Stacie Brown. The project and its success stories will become part of a nation-wide media effort, along with their parent organization and members from 25 Chapters around the country. The national media campaign is scheduled to debut on Sept. 14, with planned appearances on the “Today Show” and “Good Morning America.”

“This just isn’t a San Jose project,” added Hughes.” This is nationwide.”

Operation School Bell has made huge strides since its first year, where they clothed 50 underprivileged children. This year, as kids scramble to fine their way to new classrooms when school reconvenes in August, OSB is expected to clothe 2,200 more.

Intero President and CEO Gino Blefari presents Assistance League president Maureen Noel (center) with a check for $10,000—a grant from the Intero Foundation.

While all Assistance League chapters embrace the OBP Project and provide regular clothing, the San Jose chapter is the only one to also provide uniforms, shoes and underwear to children in need.

This year, they will once again leave their mark on 25 schools in the San Jose community, in the form of 4,400 crisp new uniforms adorning 2,200 kids, while school nurses enjoy a fresh supply of emergency kits, socks and underwear.
 
In addition to Operation School Bell, programs geared for young and old include Kids on the Block, which returns to third grade classes in the fall, with entertaining puppetry and skits designed to teach kids the survival skills needed to handle a classroom bully. Past programs have been successful in educating children on issues of disability, cultural differences, social problems, and acceptance of self and others.

Operation Hug provides bears—desperately needed comfort items—that help ease the trauma of accidents and abuse through a cooperative program with city and county agencies.

Project S.E.E. steps in to makes vision screening available for school-age children and arranges Bingo parties for seniors who are out and about. Senior Telecare steps in to offer reassurance and comfort throughout the week to elderly and shut-in persons in the greater San Jose area.

Whether sizing shoes for a 10-year-old child, rubbing lotion on an elderly woman’s hands, or fighting back a tear as a little girl embraces an overstuffed bunny, pride of accomplishment seems to fuel this group of women, performing random acts of kindness that they hope will change the world, one teddy bear or sweatshirt at a time.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge of leading this wonderful group of women,” exclaimed incoming President Maureen Noel. “We’re going to have a great year and do great things together.”

For more information on Assistance League, visit sanjose.assistanceleague.org or call (408) 997-7503.