Assistance League of Pasadena (ALP) was founded in 1936 and became the sixth chapter of National Assistance League in 1941. We are a nonprofit, nonpolitical, nonsectarian volunteer organization that puts caring and commitment into action through our philanthropic programs serving specific needs of the community. Our Pasadena chapter is one of 120 Assistance League chapters with 22,000 members nationwide.

PHILANTHROPIC PROGRAMS

  • Operation School Bell® is our signature program which provides clothing for school children in need. Included in this philanthropy is School Supplies for Success. Students are identified through referrals from principals, counselors and community assistants in the Pasadena Unified School District and from our partner organizations. The program supplies uniforms, personal care items, school supplies and a book to elementary students. During the 2023-2024 school year, we helped over 2000 children. The goals of these programs are to build self-esteem and enable the students to be better prepared to learn.

 

  • Educational Advancement provides educational support to youth in the Pasadena area, with a special emphasis on post-secondary education for youth aging out of the foster care system. In 2023-2024 ALP ‘s Educational Advancement program supported the following 3 programs:
    • SCHOLARS TRANSITIONING AND REALIZING SUCCESS(STARS): ALP provided funding to the Pasadena City College Foundation to support scholarships from the STARS program to current or former Foster Youth who have either completed a year at Pasadena City College (PCC) and require assistance in completing the second year at PCC or a graduating PCC student transferring to a four-year university.
    • Hillsides: Youth Moving On: In 2023-24, ALP provided funding to Hillsides: Youth Moving On, for the purchase of laptops, printers, metro passes and related computer equipment to support the clients of Youth Moving On. This program provides transition education, housing and other services ages 16-25 to help them find lasting independence and personal fulfillment.
    • VIP PLUS was established to provide an experiential enrichment learning experience to students in 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th grades outside of the school environment. In 2023-2024, ALP provided a stipend to fund classes in art, music, dance and sports to 13 students nominated by their respective schools. This program is intended to recognize students who have made positive improvements during the school year.

 

  • Care & Comfort is a program which provides clothing items and hygiene kits to help restore dignity and reduce the hurt often experienced by survivors of assault, individuals experiencing homelessness and those in crisis. Kits are distributed through community based organizations which include first responders in the cities of Pasadena, South Pasadena, Sierra Madre, and hospitals as well as local community based organizations. In 2023-2024 Care & Comfort provided distributed 1450 hygiene kits,1180 clothing kits, and 670 pieces of clothing. Care & Comfort replaces the Assault Survivors Kits (ASK®) program and permits ALP to expand the community it serves.

 

  • Bear Hugs provides teddy bears as huggable friends to comfort neglected, abused, or traumatized children. In 2023-2024, our program distributed over 3,750 teddy bears to children experiencing trauma. ALP also provided coloring books, crayons, sticker sets, and play doh® as part of this program. These items were distributed through community based organizations which include first responders in the cities of Pasadena, South Pasadena, Sierra Madre, local hospitals and other community based organizations.

 

  • Very Important Performers was established in 2010 to honor middle school students who have demonstrated dramatic improvements in one or more of the following areas: attendance, academics or behavior over the course of a semester; or have made a positive difference in their school environment. Students receive a certificate and a Target gift card at a recognition ceremony through their schools. 

 

  • SNAP! (Serving Neighbors Around Pasadena) is designed to give our volunteers the flexibility they need to quickly respond to community needs as they arise on a one-time-only basis. In 2023-24, ALP supported the following projects: 
    • Friends In Deed: Members supported Toy Drive
    • Friends In Deed: The Women’s Room: Meals were provided four times this calendar year.
    • Friends In Deed: The Women’s Room: Assembled and donated 350 packets on non-perishable food to be distributed to unhoused women for the days when The Women’s Room is closed
    • Door of Hope: Donation of 100 backpacks for their summer event
    • Pasadena Senior Center: Monetary donation to support the purchase of food for the Senior Food Drive
    • PUSD Child Welfare and Attendance Program: Provided gift cards in support of attendance incentives and provided direct support to two families facing food insecurity. Items provided to the family included gift cards for Target, Vallarta and ARCO. The families were identified and selected by the Student Welfare staff.

 

 FUNDRAISING

Treasure Fair Thrift Shop’s revenues support ALP’s philanthropic programs. It is staffed entirely by members and community volunteers and is stocked with donated clothing, household items, books, furniture, jewelry, novelties, collectibles and more.

Annual Appeal: Our members and community friends show their support of our chapter by donating to our Annual Appeal. In 2023-2024, our supporters generously contributed over $71,000 to this campaign.

Tributes and Memorials: Contributions to our chapter from members and the community are always welcome – in honor of, in loving memory of, or to commemorate special events.

Grants: Our Grants Committee seeks grants each year from charitable foundations and community organizations. In 2023-2024, we gratefully accepted funding from the Albertson Company Foundation, The Pasadena Tournament of Roses Foundation, the Pasadena Host Lions Club Memorial Trust, the Green Foundation and the Jameson Foundation.

 

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

To increase the support to the Pasadena, Altadena and Sierra Madre communities, ALP has developed strategic partnerships with the following organizations:

  • Altadena Sheriff’s Station
  • Families Forward
  • Huntington Health
  • LAC/USC Violence Intervention Program
  • LAC/USC Violence Intervention Program – El Monte Satellite
  • Monrovia Police Department
  • Pasadena Fire Department
  • Pasadena Police Department
  • Peace Over Violence (Los Angeles Office)
  • Sexual Assault Response Team (SART)
  • Shepherd’s Door
  • Shriners For Children Medical Center
  • Sierra Madre Fire Department
  • Union Station
  • Young & Healthy
  • South Pasadena Police Department
  • South Pasadena Fire Station
  • Door of Hope
  • Hillsides: Youth Moving On
  • Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD)
  • PUSD Student Welfare and Attendance.
  • Families in Transition
  • Pasadena/Altadena Coalition of Transformative Leaders (PACTL)

Assistance League of Pasadena is classified by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and donors may deduct contributions to our organization as provided in section 170 of the IRS Code. Our Federal Tax ID # is 95-1891341.