On Saturday, August 18, 2007 Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation presented a check in the amount of $2,500.00 to Assistance League of Indianapolis to help fund their Operation School BellŪ program. Assistance League is a 180 volunteer-member organization. Carmel is heavily represented in Assistance League with 56 members, many of who were present to receive the grant award in person. Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation has been a supporter of Operation School Bell for several years. Their cumulative donation is over $6,000. MaryJo Schaum with Enterprise Fleet Management in Chicago, IL made the check presentation.
Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson helps to open Operation School Bell. On Thursday, August 23, 2007, Operation School Bell opened it doors for their 23rd year of providing new uniforms, clothing, shoes and supplies to the underserved children of Indianapolis. Mayor Peterson attended opening day taking time to talk to children and helping them select their new clothing items.
IPS Superintendent, Dr. Eugene White, was also on hand to greet the children.
“Operation School Bell has been serving us for a number of years, and it’s a great benefit for the parents.” - Dr. Eugene White
| This school year Operation School Bell’s goal is to provide new school clothing to 2,675 underserved children from Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) and The Metropolitan School Districts (MSD) of Lawrence, Pike, Warren and Washington Townships. In the 2007-2008 school year 2,470 disadvantaged children from IPS and the MSD's of Lawrence, Pike, Warren, and Washington Townships will be personally fitted with new athletic shoes and socks. |  |
During the 2006-2007 fiscal year, we implemented the inaugural Community Advisory Council of Assistance League of Indianapolis. The council will provide expertise in areas of legality, finance and investing, information technology, marketing/public relations, real estate and community leadership.
Members of the Advisory Council are:
Michael A. Fish - CFM, Senior Vice President, Merrill Lynch
Kathleen Hart – Attorney, Bose McKinney & Evans LLP
Kathy Jordan – Vice President of Team Development, Pacers Sports & Entertainment
Dr. Panos Linos – Professor, Computer Science and Software Engineering,
Ralph Taylor – Program Director, The Indianapolis Foundation, an affiliate of the Central Indiana Community Foundation
Young-Hee Yedinak – Senior Producer of Community Affairs – WTHR-TV 13
On June 28, 2007, Jane Vawter, President of Assistance League of Indianapolis, appeared on the Fox Morning News and received a grant award presented by Shonda Russell, Community Affairs Manager. The grant award was $10,000 from Fox 59/CW4 Community Fund, Fund of the McCormick Tribune Foundation. Fox 59/CW4 has been an outstanding supporter of Assistance League of Indianapolis and our Operation School Bell program. With this grant, Fox 59/CW4 Community Fund, A Fund of the McCormick Tribune Foundation, has contributed $20,000 in monetary donations along with in-kind support of media exposure.
Visit the Fox 59 Web site
To learn more about the McCormick Tribune Foundation, click here
Our 2006-2007 fiscal year kicked off with a wonderful, inspiring guest speaker, Mrs. Judy O'Bannon, former First Lady of Indiana. Mrs. O'Bannon's speech was positive, stimulating and extremely motivating. Mrs. O'Bannon has been a supporter of Assistance League of Indianapolis for many years.
| In the year 2000 she helped to launch Shoes: A Division of Operation School Bell. She referenced in her speech that Assistance League members are giving those intangibles to children to help them feel like they can hang with the rest of the kids. You are also giving them basics like a toothbrush and underwear. You are connecting kids with the world outside of their problems and showing that people do care and want to help. To view a portion of Mrs. O'Bannon's speech, please click on the following link. View Video |
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The annual Holiday Luncheon has become one of Assistance League’s favorite events. This year the luncheon broke a new attendance record with 454 guests. The tables were beautifully adorned with poinsettia centerpieces while the pink and lime green color scheme blanketed the event. Special guests included grant representatives from foundations who support Assistance League and media guests. The silent auction was overflowing with delightful edible treats and holiday decorative items. Ticket sales, silent auction profits and proceeds from The Secret Ingredient Style Show came together to raise a net surplus of $19,200 to help fund our five philanthropic programs. The 2007 Holiday Luncheon will take place on Thursday, November 29th. For more information on the Holiday Luncheon please contact us at Holiday@alindy.org.
Guests enjoyed the 16th annual Star Gala, a fun-filled St. Patrick’s Day themed evening at the Ritz Charles in
The Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust was honored with the Star Award for their continued financial support to Assistance League of Indianapolis. On behalf of the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust, Michael Twyman Ph.D., Director of Grants Programs – Indiana, accepted the award.
“The Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust is pleased to partner with the Assistance League of Indianapolis to support the organization’s outstanding service to the community. The League’s volunteers are phenomenal and are making a difference in the lives of so many in need. We are honored to accept the Star Award and wish the organization continued success.”
Dr. Twyman Ph.D., Director of Grants Program -
Other highlights included bidding on schoolhouse charms and bracelets donated by Robert Goodman Jewelers in Zionsville. Thank you to Repro Graphics, Inc., for donating the printing of the program, Indiana Ambassadors, Inc. for their help in facilitating our auction, Hall & House Lumber Co., our member-volunteers and many others for making the event a huge success. With their support, the 2007 Star Gala raised over $100,600 to support our five philanthropic programs.
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