WITH 250+ ACTIVE MEMBERS, THE CONEJO VALLEY
“WE ARE TEACHING LEADERSHIP AND CONFIDENCE, AND PROMOTING WELLROUNDED AND SOCIALLY AWARE CONTRIBUTORS IN OUR COMMUNITY,” SAYS WILSON.
CHAPTER OF NATIONAL CHARITY LEAGUE, INC. offers mothers the opportunity to work with their daughters and teach them the importance of giving back. “This is a crucial time in our daughters’ lives, where they may not want to spend a lot of time with their moms—we all
Members of our chapter volunteer at the thrift shop, so that we
are encouraged to step beyond that and work together for our
may give back as much as possible to our community.”
community,” says President Anita Wilson, of Agoura Hills.
Because the Conejo Valley is considered a very affluent
“The philanthropies that we volunteer at depend upon our
area, “we are teaching the importance of giving back to our
help every week,” she says. “At times we are the only volunteers
own community,” Wilson says. “You can give to different orga-
they get, and we are fortunate to be able to be there for them.”
nizations throughout the world, but it should really start in our
Through the volunteering, “We are teaching leadership and
own backyards…we have that opportunity to give back to peo-
confidence, and promoting well-rounded and socially aware contributors in our community,” says Wilson.
ple who really do need it and they do live so close.” Currently, the Conejo Valley Chapter helps 17 philanthropies.
In addition to the group’s members, it also has more than
“Our philanthropies serve seniors, military, special needs,
200 “sustainers,” who are women with daughters that have
animals, environmental, children, families in need, the arts,
gone through the program and graduated.
medical, community and those in lower-income brackets,” says
There are many examples of how these mothers and daughters give back. Throughout the year, for instance, they help with different activities at the Conejo Recreation and Park District. “They need help teaching special needs children basketball, swimming and cooking, as well as socializing, leisure planning
Erika Owens, the chapter’s V.P. of Philanthropy. Volunteer opportunities can be one-time events, such as Art Trek Community Night, holding dogs at pet adoptions, stuffing backpacks at My Stuff Bags, or serving dinner at Therapeutic Rec Family Bingo.
and independence,” Wilson explains. “It is important to have all
“There are also more long-term commitments, such as
ages helping out to help socialize the special needs children and
Many Mansions homework tutoring, Therapeutic Rec Summer
our members fill this need…we, as volunteers, get back so much
camps, or a weekly shift at Los Robles Hospital in their volun-
more than we give through the smiles, hugs and happy faces.”
teer program,” Owens says.
In other efforts, the Conejo Valley Chapter opened Fibber McGee’s Thrift Shop in 1985.
Volunteering 10,000+ hours each year, the ladies agree, “it is equally important to say that we get back so much more than
“This thrift shop benefits our community in three ways,”
we give,” Wilson adds. “If you ask any of our daughters, they
Wilson says. “We sell gently used household items and clothing
will tell you a story of the impact that the various organizations
to our community, where the proceeds are used to award grants
have had on their lives: all very positive.”
to our philanthropy partners as well as scholarships to local high school senior girls that are not members of our organization.
Learn more at NationalCharityLeague.org.
May 2018 | Conejo Valley Lifestyle
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