Assistance League of Pasadena
Transforming Lives - Strengthening Community
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Operation School Bell
Operation School Bell® is our signature program. It provides clothing for school children in need through referrals from principals, counselors and community assistants in the Pasadena Unified School District. This program supplies uniforms, shoes, personal care items and a book to elementary students. Since the program's inception, over 26,000 children have been served. The goal of the program is to build self-esteem, reduce social stigmas, increase school participation and enable these students to attend classes better prepared to learn.
Craft Fair Gift Shop
Craft Fair Gift Shop…opened in 1955, is a consignment shop that offers a creative outlet for adults over 50 years of age to supplement their income and remain active by making handcrafted items. Craft Fair returns 75% of its sales to the exhibitors each year.
Bear Hugs
Bear Hugs provides teddy bears as huggable friends to comfort neglected, abused, or traumatized children. Since the program's inception, over 10,000 bears have been distributed.
Very Important Performers
Very Important Performers was established in 2010 to honor middle school students who have demonstrated significant improvement in one or more of the following areas: attendance, academics and behavior over the course of a semester. Assistance League honors these students with a luncheon and awards ceremony.
Assault Survivor Kits®
Assault Survivor Kits® program provides clothing items to survivors of assault or abuse who have been referred for assessment and treatment. The goal is to offer comfort and help restore dignity to assault survivors.
Where we work
External reviews
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Assistance League of Pasadena hopes to enhance the lives of members of our community by creating, managing and staffing hands-on programs. For instance, Operation School Bell provides school uniforms to low-income children. The main goals of this program are to build self-esteem, enable students to attend classes better prepared to learn and to reduce disparity of the most disadvantaged students. We hope that providing uniforms to 1,500 children a year will create a positive school experience for each child served. The Very Important Performers program creates a positive school experience for each middle-school student honored. The Craft Fair Gift Shop enhances the lives of each crafter by creating a place to nurture their talents and sell their crafts. Craft Fair is a consignment shop located in Pasadena. In addition to its purpose as a community program, it also provides a unique opportunity for customers to buy high-quality hand-made goods. The Assault Survivor Kits program and the Bear Hugs program were created to comfort children and adults during a traumatic time in each of their lives. Each program is reviewed annually to ensure that it continues to meet the goals of Assistance League. In order to accomplish these program goals, it is important for our leaders to maintain the strength and integrity of Assistance League of Pasadena. Our Strategic Plan's primary goals are: to attract, educate and appreciate our members; to operate philanthropic programs that meet the needs of our community, our members and chapter resources; to raise adequate funds to support our programs and chapter administration; and to ensure the future of Assistance League of Pasadena. We are constantly evaluating our organization and its programs to ensure that our mission and goals are met.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Our Strategic Plan has four main goals. Goal 1: Attract and maintain a diverse, informed, and committed membership to ensure the success of the mission. The current strategies for Goal 1 are to attract new members; orient, mentor, and assimilate new members; provide education and leadership training for all members; and value, appreciate, and nurture members. Goal 2: Operate philanthropic programs that meet identified community needs, membership commitment and interests, and chapter resources. Strategies for Goal 2 are to maintain philanthropic programs that meet current community needs; and to monitor changes in community needs. Goal 3: Raise adequate funds to support Assistance League of Pasadena's philanthropic programs and chapter administration. Strategies for Goal 3 include maximizing net surplus from Treasure Fair Thrift Shop; investigating other funding sources (e.g., corporate partners program); maximizing contributions to our Annual Appeal fundraiser; and maximizing funding from grants. Goal 4: Ensure the future of Assistance League of Pasadena. Goal 4 strategies are to continue to develop effective and committed leaders; maintain solid financial position; and to maintain effective risk management policies.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
As one of 120 chapters of Assistance League across the country, we are committed to making a difference in our community. Assistance League of Pasadena has been helping the community for over 70 years. We currently have over 100 volunteer members who provide over 15,000 volunteer hours each year. In addition, we employ 7 part-time employees to help staff our two stores and our business office. Assistance League of Pasadena has a 12-member Board of Directors that oversees the operations and finances of the organization and its programs. Assistance League of Pasadena is financially strong. We own our buildings, have no debt and have adequate reserves to take care of unexpected emergencies. Our Treasure Fair Thrift Shop nets about $100,000 a year for our general fund. Assistance League of Pasadena also raises funds through an Annual Appeal that raises over $40,000 a year for the general fund, primarily from our members. In addition to our own resources, we have help from others. \n\nOur Operation School Bell program is well loved in the community. Each year, an anonymous donor donates the cost of all the hard-back books given to each child. Assistance League of Flintridge has partnered with us each year to supply the personal care items and the PayLess Shoe card given to each child. In addition, we have a Grant Committee that looks for grants from funders in California. In recent years, we have received program funding from the Berger Foundation, Jameson Foundation, Green Foundation, Safeway Foundation, the Pasadena Host Lions Club, and the Rotary Club of Pasadena. We have received capital funding from the Pasadena Community Foundation to support our infrastructure when needed. Our programs are carried out at our facilities located in Pasadena. Assistance League of Pasadena has more than adequate resources to meet its mission for the foreseeable future. In addition, our parent organization continues to support our chapter and its other chapters with advice and educational opportunities.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Assistance League of Pasadena has enhanced the lives of an amazing number of people in need in our community over the 75 years that we have been in service. We hope to continue to provide service to our community for years to come.\n• Operation School Bell has grown to supply approximately 1,700 children-in-need each school year. We have clothed over 26,000 children since the program's creation.\n• Craft Fair Gift Shop returns approximately $40,000 to senior crafters annually.\n• Very Important Performers has brought joy to over 200 middle-school students and their families since its inception.\n•ASK and Bear Hugs continue to hand out Bears and clothing to abused, neglected and/or traumatized individuals through our local hospitals and fire departments.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Assistance League of Pasadena
Board of directorsas of 02/28/2023
2133616699 Ursula Hyman
No affiliation
Term: 2020 - 2023
Mary Ann McGovern
No affiliation
Marie Mauldin
Ursula Hyman
Denise Hornick
Cynthia Nelson
Christine Langteau
Michelle Chino
Cindy Bishop
Elizabeth Polenzani
Simonetta May
Ultra Soto-Rojas
Terry Sauer
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Not applicable -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
No data
Transgender Identity
No data
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data