Assistance League of Victor Valley
Transforming Lives - Strengthening Community
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Assistance League of Victor Valley members identify, develop, implement, and fund ongoing philanthropic programs for specific needs of the community which includes the incorporated and unincorporated areas of Apple Valley, Victorville, Hesperia, Adelanto, Oro Grande, Helendale, and Lucerne Valley. Each year, the number of economically disadvantaged families in the Victor Valley increases! Over 60% of the students in the seven school districts we serve are on the free-lunch program and majority are Low/Moderate Income Families. These families often have to choose between paying bills, buying food, or getting new school clothing for their children. Our goal is to find ways to help them! We aim to secure funds to continue and expand our philanthropic programs touching the lives of thousands each year in our community. We work to meet these needs for all of the families in the Victor Valley community.
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 the signature program for Assistance League. Since 1987, our Victor Valley Chapter dedicated volunteers have proudly provided new school clothes to over 37,000 local students. We conduct an "outcome" survey at the end of each year. The survey is completed by the school coordinators/teachers. The results of the survey have shown that 85% of participating students demonstrated a significant and/or positive change in classroom behavior, confidence, and level of engagement with peers and/or school activities.
Operation Hug
Operation HUG provides cuddly bears to children suffering from physical and emotional trauma while being treated in local hospitals. These bears provide comfort to these children in crisis. Members deliver bears to our three local hospital emergency rooms for distribution.
Assault Survivor Kits
This program provides clothing and grooming items to victims of violence. When a victim's clothing is retained as evidence in a criminal investigation, they are given a kit that contains a shirt, pants, underwear, socks, and hygiene items. Kits are distributed, as needed by counselors from the Partners Against Violence high desert location.
Project R.E.A.D.
Read, Enjoy, And Develop was adopted by Assistance League of Victor Valley in response to the identified needs of local school children. Our chapter provides funding offered to all nine High Desert School Districts that is used to bind selected children's stories for the Young Author's Program, as well as STEM and Literacy Awards.
STEM Awards are made available on request for special projects that enhance student involvement and experimentation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.
Literacy Awards provide chapter books for children and classroom sets for new teachers.
Pass It On
A program to donate excess items from our Thrift Shop to help other 501(c)(3) organizations. This allow us to partner with them to improve the lives of families in our local communities It also helps our environment by ensuring that everything that comes into our thrift Shop is 're-used/re-cycled'.
Outreach
A program that provides a flexible, rapid-response strategy by which Assistance League of Victor Valley can respond to specific community needs that do not fit within currently existing programs and that can be addressed on a one-time-only basis.
Moving Forward
Moving Forward is a program to help young adults who have aged out of the foster system. We help by providing practical needs of household goods so they can begin to set up their own household. Our volunteer members purchase essential items and present to them as they prepare to live on their own. Budget to cover $250 per youth - 20 this year
Teens Helping Teens
A program to provide blankets, socks, full-size grooming, and personal items to teens in need. Distributed through the local high schools.
Where we work
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Total number of volunteer hours contributed to the organization
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
All members of Assistance League of Victor Valley are volunteers donating their time and talents raising funds that support local community philanthropic programs. Decreased hours due to COVID.
Number of children who receive new school clothing through Operation School Bell
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth, Economically disadvantaged people
Related Program
Operation School Bell
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
Operation School Bell is our signature program that provides a shopping experience for children to purchase new school clothing, uniforms and shoes
Number of bears donated to local hospitals for children in trauma situation
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
Children and youth
Related Program
Operation Hug
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
Each year we deliver bears to 3 local hospital emergency departments. Numbers were low in 2020 due to the Corona virus. Hospitals can once again accept bears and we provided as needed.
Percentage of Annual return to the community for Philanthropic Programs
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
Philanthropic Programs of Assistance League of Victor Valley: Assault Survivor Kits, Operation Hug, Operation School Bell, Project R.E.A.D, Outreach, and Moving Forward
Number of Dr. Seuss books and DVDs distributed to Kindergarten students and teachers during Action Week
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Project R.E.A.D.
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Participation in National Assistance League's Action Week - Books, bookmarks and DVDs went to Kindergarten students in several elementary schools
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 Victor Valley aspires to identify and meet the needs of our local community through teamwork, resourcefulness, and reliability.
GOAL #1: Provide philanthropic Programs and Services that meet the needs of the High Desert Community
GOAL #2: Recruit and retain members to properly support ongoing Philanthropic Programs and staff the thrift shop
GOAL #3: Maintain sufficient funds to ensure ongoing operations, long-term financial stability, and continuous growth
GOAL #4: Investigate and implement modern digital technology and systems to update and enhance the Chapter's management and
communication methods
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
In following our Strategic Plan, we are:
(1) actively working to expand current philanthropic programs and develop new quality programs where our volunteer members can have a positive impact where it is most needed;
(2) identifying new ways to recruit volunteer members and promote member satisfaction and retention through mentoring and training.
(3) striving to maintain sufficient funds to ensure ongoing operation, long-term financial stability, and continuous growth through efficient thrift shop management. Increase Assistance League of Victor Valley's visibility to enlarge donor, supporters, and shoppers.
(4) Developing a technology team. Investigate and develop a centralized database for membership, fundraising, and program outcomes. Assist chapter members to learn and use digital tools and social media.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
With over 130 volunteer members all dedicated to fulfilling the needs of the Victor Valley, we manage and maintain a balance between income and expenses. We work tirelessly and successfully to participate in and support the fundraising and philanthropic programs and projects of the chapter. We have successfully implemented the use of constant contacts, Facebook, and our website to keep our thrift shop customers informed of upcoming sales and events. We send out a community newsletter twice a year to keep our donors informed of the impact of our programs and how their donations benefit the community. As an all-volunteer organization, we can keep our expenses low and return more than 75% each year to the community through our philanthropic programs.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
We have clothed over 37,000 students through our Operation School Bell program since 1987; provided thousands of cuddly bears to children in trauma situations through three local hospitals; provided emergency clothing and hygiene items to assault victims through the county's rape crisis center; and published and bound books for students who have written short stories through the Young Authors program. We have provided household items for young adults transitioning out of foster care and have provided food and essential items to families during emergency situations. We have participated in the "USA Today" Make a Difference Day and have donated thousands of books to local school libraries and classrooms. We participate in National Assistance League Action Week, providing books, DVDs, and interactive skits to young school-age children. We have expanded our Operation School Bell program to include middle and high school students. We have partnered with local stores to better meet the clothing size and uniform needs of all children and we order shoes from a company offering wholesale sneakers for charity. We have expanded our R.E.A.D (Read, Enjoy, and Develop) program to provide science and technology grants to schools and also provide chapter books to children and books for classroom libraries. We will continue with our current programs and investigate other needs in our community.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback
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
- 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.
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 Victor Valley
Board of directorsas of 10/16/2024
Sylvia Morrison
Assistance League of Victor Valley
Term: 2023 - 2025
Ramona Muldoon
Assistance League of Victor Valley
JoAnn Seel
Assistance League of Victor Valley
Sylvia Morrison
Assistance League of Victor Valley
Sandi Maberry
Assistance League of Victor Valley
Lisa Hoegerman
Assistance League of Victor Valley
Pat Fox
Assistance League of Victor Valley
Kay Marie Gregory
Assistance League of Victor Valley
Merry Bayles
Assistance League of Victor Valley
Kathie Bordonaro
Assistance League of Victor Valley
Lisa Bentz
Assistance League of Victor Valley
Sally Parris
Assistance League of Victor Valley
Christine Fuller
Assistance League of Victor Valley
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:
The organization's co-leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
No data
Transgender Identity
No data
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data