Each year Assistance League chapters throughout the country participate in Make a Difference Day. For more than two decades, USA TODAY and Points of Light partner on Make A Difference Day, the largest national day of community service. It is also supported by the Paul Newman’s Own and Gannett Foundation.
Make A Difference Day is a day to celebrate the power of people to make a difference. Assistance League has traditionally purchased and collected new books to give to recipients in their communities. Each year they have collected and donated over 1,200 new books to recipients such as Temecula Elementary School, Rancho Damacitas, Oak Grove, Boys and Girls Club, Menifee Boys and Girls Club.
This year Assistance League approached the Lake Elsinore Unified School District as the recipient for the books they would purchase and collect. The district Governing Board came back with a request for educational apps to use with the iPods they are implementing in their classrooms. Assistance League’s philanthropic program Operation Nonprofit Partnerships had $1,000 budgeted for Make a Difference Day. After consideration, it was decided that educational apps would impact many children in the district so educational apps were purchased and donated instead of books.
Assistance League thought this program might be something the communities whose children attend LEUSD schools would like to participate with them and donate to purchase more apps. “Assistance League has provided services to LEUSD since 1989,” said Past President Electra Demos. “We were delighted to support the district with their apps project and benefit a great number of students with their use in the classroom.”
Demos facilitated the community fund drive and raised an additional $1,200 for the program. Assistance League was able to donate $2,200 to the district for the purchase of educational apps.
“LEUSD is thrilled with all the years of support we have received from Assistance League of Temecula Valley,” said Dr. Alain Guevara, LEUSD Assistant Superintendent, Administrative and Educational Support Services. “Their out of the box thinking and Make a Difference Day program raised $2,200 for licensing hundreds of apps for education that will be used on district iPads to benefit students from TK to grade 12. Assistance League of Temecula Valley is making a lasting difference in our classrooms.”
Assistance League of Temecula Valley operates the Assistance League Thrift Shop at 28720 Via Montezuma in Temecula. Revenue from thrift shop sales is the main source of funding for chapter philanthropic programs.
Assistance League of Temecula Valley, a chapter of National Assistance League, is a nonprofit, volunteer philanthropic organization dedicated to serving the needs of families in Southwest Riverside County since 1989. Browse their website for more information about their philanthropic programs and membership at www.temeculavalley.assistanceleague.org or call (951) 694-8018.
