Assistance League® of Indianapolis participated in USA Weekend’s 24th annual Make A Difference Day by collecting books donated by member volunteers and the organization’s Operation School Bell® program. Margaret Lawrence, Vice President of Marketing, and member Ruth Ann Arany then delivered them to Teachers’ Treasures, The Indianapolis Boys and Girls Club, and Nora Elementary School for use by Burmese refugee students.
Make A Difference Day was started by USA Weekend, a national weekend newspaper magazine, in 1992 as a day for Americans to set aside some time to improve the lives of others. It has grown to become the largest community day of service in the United States. Assistance League chapters across America collected new children's books to promote literacy. Each chapter distributed the books within their community to agencies and places where they would meet a need. Assistance League of Indianapolis’s community outreach program, “Random Acts of Kindness”, gave members an opportunity to donate books at the August and October Members’ Meeting. Margaret Lawrence headed the donation effort and the distribution of the 1,203 books collected. Assistance League of Indianapolis is proud to join other Assistance League chapters across the county in participating in this day of community service. This instance of caring and commitment of member volunteers is an example of how the organization continues to benefit adults and children of in the Indianapolis area.
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 Each year, The Shining Star Outstanding Member Award gives special recognition to one or more member volunteers who have exemplified outstanding contributions to Assistance League of Indianapolis. Initiated in 2011, the recipients of this award are chosen from nominations given to a selection committee consisting of President-Elect as chairman, immediate past Vice President of Membership, Hours Chairman, immediate past President and immediate past Operation School Bell Chairman. From May through August, the membership is encouraged to nominate those who have given of themselves above and beyond the requirements for membership in Assistance League of Indianapolis. This year’s recipients, Patty McGoff and Denee Damian, were announced at the organization’s September meeting by President-Elect, Patricia Johnson.
Patty McGoff joined Assistance League in 2007 and has logged over 3000 hours in her work with programs and projects. She has served Operation School Bell as a buyer for uniform clothing, merchandise chairman, assistant chairman, and Operation School Bell chairman. In addition, she has worked on special committees, been Donor Recorder, and has been Vice President of Philanthropic Programs for two years. In her remarks while presenting the award to Patty, President-Elect Patricia Johnson said, “Probably one of her greatest contributions, although there are many, is her friendliness, sense of humor and sense of fun. Members enjoy working with her because she is caring and fun loving.” Denee Damian has been an Assistance League member since 1999. She has held many positions within the organization which include Assault Survivor Kits Chairman, Properties Manager, Operation School Bell Vice Chairman, Operation School Bell President, Finance Chairman, Gala Co-Chairman, Shoes Chairman, Bylaws Chairman, Grants Chairman, and Parliamentarian as well as serving on special committees. Denee was President-Elect in 2005-06 and President of Assistance League of Indianapolis in 2006-07. Patty Johnson stated, “She is a no nonsense, straightforward levelheaded member. For 15 years, has given her time, energy, talents, financial support and much more. I could go on, on …” The contributions of service and the volunteer service hours logged by Patty and Denee are inspiring to the member volunteers of Assistance League. Nominated from their peers, these two individuals set an example of caring and commitment to carrying on the mission of Assistance League of Indianapolis in helping underserved Indianapolis area children and adults through the organizations philanthropic programs. |