Assistance League of Capistrano Valley, Inc.

Assistance League® of Capistrano Valley is striving to put caring and commitment into action through our community-based philanthropic programs. Assistance League of Capistrano Valley provides the overarching structure enabling approximately 300 local volunteers to effectively execute our approved philanthropic programs in the local community. Ongoing education, administrative guidance and empowerment are key principles employed to collectively guide our chapter. Our members design, fund and effectively implement unique philanthropic programs to provide humanitarian services in the community. We strive to enhance educational opportunities for children and meet the needs of underserved children and families.

Goal 1: EQUIP leaders to develop, fund and put into action programs to meet the unique needs of communities we serve
Goal 2: ENGAGE, EMPOWER, and INSPIRE members and develop plans for recruiting a diverse new group of volunteers
Goal 3: IMPLEMENT targeted and intentional marketing campaigns to grow brand awareness and aid membership recruitment and thrift store promotion
Goal 4: RE-IMAGINE new ways to meet community needs and deepen engagement of stakeholders and program recipients
Goal 5: FOSTER long-term donor relationships and community partners to purposefully guide supporters toward greater giving and involvement

Our organization has a long history of putting caring and commitment into community-based philanthropic programs. We were founded in 1977 and since then our volunteers have continuously supported the students in the elementary and middle schools within the Capistrano Unified School District (CUSD) in South Orange County. In a joint project with other local Chapters, we also help support the families on the Camp Pendleton Marine Base. During the 2015-2016 school year our volunteers touched the lives of over 23,000 children through our four major philanthropies.

Operation School Bell (OSB) – This is the signature program of our national organization and also for our chapter. This is our largest program and carries an annual budget of approximately $85,000. Via this program we provide new school clothing, shoes and personal care kits for K-8 school children within the CUSD. Chapters for Children provides clothing for children of military families and we also give assistance with baby equipment and supplies for non-school aged children.

Hands on Literacy Program – This program was instituted in 1991. Our volunteers provide one-on-one reading assistance for children with special needs in elementary schools. Gift books are presented to each child twice a year to encourage reading at home. This is a much-appreciated support system for teachers in our school system.

Links to Learning – We instituted this grant program in 1997 after the idea was presented at our National Conference. This program provides funds to help middle school staff to enhance and/or develop new or different approaches to teaching.

Chapters for Children -- This program is one of our members' favorites. Several times a year, our members unpack and repack purchased clothing for all-aged Military children, from babies to high school children. We take it to the base, and let the children and their parents pick pants, shorts, shirts, jackets, underwear, and socks. It's the smiles on the children's faces that give us the most pleasure.

All of our programs enhance the educational experience for all children in our local school district. These programs are a perfect example of the organization's founder, Anne Banning's philanthropic philosophy to promote the growth of effective volunteerism through leadership training and education. We gain support from the national organization, we measure the needs of our community and we put caring and commitment into action.

Our signature philanthropy, Operation School Bell, has helped us to fulfill our mission to put caring and commitment into action while providing humanitarian services in the community. Enrollment in this program grows each year. Our revenues at our Thrift Shop have increased over the past few years which has enabled us to expand this program and add new services such as providing clothing for needy high school students for job interviews and college attendance. We have also added a philanthropy offering scholarships to single working parents who are trying to finish their education as we believe this ties in with our philosophy of providing the kids with clothing to help their self-esteem in school. We would also like to expand our Links to Learning program to provide more grant money as the school budgets continue to get more restrictive. We are looking to expand our presence and strengthen our ties with our community and to build stronger donor relationships.