The Founding of Assistance League
Ana Edwards Laughlin
Anne Banning and her close friend and co-founder Ada Edwards Laughlin were instrumental in the early days of organized charity in the United States. Both women married into influential families—Anne’s father-in-law, Phineas Banning, was known as the ‘Father of the Port of Los Angeles,’ while her husband, Hancock Banning, played a key role in the development of Catalina Island. Ada, a Stanford graduate and teacher, was also a proponent of women’s basketball and married Homer Laughlin Jr., whose family created the iconic Fiesta Dinnerware.
Anne and a group of prominent women began their charitable work in the mid-1890s under the name Assistance League. Their efforts extended beyond local boundaries, including significant relief work for the victims of the San Francisco earthquake. Anne’s innovative fundraising approaches, such as establishing a ‘pay to attend’ model for charity events, became a blueprint for successful nonprofit fundraising. During World War I, Anne organized and served as the Director of the Los Angeles Red Cross Chapter.
Anne Banning
In 1919, Anne, Ada, and their friends formalized the Assistance League of Southern California, providing food and clothing for local families severely impacted by the war. Their work quickly expanded with the establishment of a neighborhood Community House that offered a variety of programs and services, which later became models for public and private agencies.
Their legacy of service and dedication to helping those in need remains a guiding principle of the Assistance League today. By the time Anne and Ada retired in 1948, there were already ten local chapters throughout Southern California. Today, there are 120 chapters nationwide.
