About Us
History
National Assistance League ®, founded in California, is the first nonprofit, nonpolitical, nonsectarian organization to recognize the potential of volunteers helping those less fortunate to a better, more meaningful life. The first chapter began in Los Angeles in 1919. As the area grew, more chapters were formed. National Assistance League ® was established in 1936 and incorporated in 1949.
From this modest beginning, the National Assistance League has grown to 116 chapters with over 24,000 members throughout the United States.
Interest in forming an Assistance League® of San Antonio began in May, 1983. After several coffees and organizational meetings, an invitational coffee was held to acquaint the community with the ideas and aims of National Assistance League. On May 29, 1984, one hundred ninety-three volunteers became members of the organizing group that obtained status as the Assistance Guild of San Antonio on June 24, 1984. The Guild was chartered as the Assistance League ® of San Antonio on May 3, 1988, when it became the 76th chapter of National Assistance League. In addition, Bexar Hugs Auxiliary was certified in 1995.
Since chartered, Assistance League of San Antonio has increased its membership to 491 members. It presently has the largest active membership in the country.
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Assistance League of San Antonio: Quick Facts |
- Largest active membership of Assistance League Chapters in the country
- Current membership - 491
- Located at 2611 West Avenue
- Touched the lives of over 65,000 members of the San Antonio community last year
- 100% of philanthropic work done by volunteers
- Last year’s volunteer hours - 66,000
- Major source of funds for philanthropic work - Thrift House at 2611 West Avenue
- Projects serviced through agencies, schools and organizations that verify needs of individuals
- Sponsors seven Philanthropic Programs:
- Adopt A Resident - gift of time and friendship to Chandler Nursing Home residents
- C.A.P.S. - donation of 950 caps last year to acutely ill children and teens in local hospitals
- College Scholarships - Twelve $2000 scholarships to qualifying juniors and seniors
- I'm In Charge - reaches over 6,000 elementary students with a program about personal safety
- Operation School Bell - provides school clothes for over 4,000 elementary children in need of clothing in order to attend school
- Togs for Tots - provides clothing for more than 5,600 children from birth to age five at the request of 27 community agencies
- Watch Me Grow - distributes over 20,000 booklets as a guide for parents about the developmental stages of their children
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