The chapter thanks the City of Dickinson for issuing a proclamation declaring February 27, 2024, as Assistance League® of the Bay Area Day in celebration of our 30th anniversary, May 19, 2024.
Mayor Sean Skipworth presents the proclamation to President Rebecca Saavedra (left) and President-Elect Linda Byrd (right).
Our chapter’s Cinderella season is underway at the Clear Creek ISD Learner Support Center, which has temporarily been transformed into a stylish boutique with ballgowns, jewelry, shoes, handbags, and corsages for our young women to select for that all-important rite of passage.
Twin sisters found the perfect combination of complementary style and color to attend their upcoming memorable evening.
Assistance League® of the Bay Area is grateful to have established a connection with the Bay Area Houston Alumnae Chapter-Delta Sigma Theta Sorority a few years ago. They have generously supported two of our philanthropic initiatives – Assault Survivor Kits® and Operation Cinderella.
Moreover, every year, they volunteer en masse at our renowned Resale Shop on the last Saturday of February, celebrating their organization’s birthday and choosing to serve area nonprofits.
We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to all the members of this wonderful organization for their unwavering commitment to their community and for choosing us as one of their service recipients.
We have been looking back at our philanthropic programs in the last few weeks and celebrating their growth and evolution over the past thirty years.
Now, we are shifting our focus to reminisce about the beginnings of funding initiatives and looking at our present-day activities.
The original idea was straightforward: to organize an annual fundraising event that would stand out and make a lasting impression on attendees. The Ball of the Wild event was created to raise funds for philanthropic programs and generate a sense of urgency among the community to attend.
The first event was held outdoors at the Armand Bayou Nature Center in 1989, in line with its theme. Prizes for the raffle tickets included round-trip tickets to Spain, a mink and leather jacket, and a Parvizian oriental rug. The dancing didn’t start until 11 p.m. Excitement filled the air, and accompanying that energy was a different kind… thunderclouds. Torrential rains came, but alas…no one left as this became the STORY, still recalled today with laughter and a deep satisfaction and pride of how committed attendees were to raise the necessary funds to support the philanthropic programs.
The organization decided to alternate between the Ball of the Wild and Weegatta, a smaller but equally financially supportive event. Initially, the Ball of the Wild didn’t have a specific theme, but after three years, themes were introduced. Some of the themes included An Evening of Magical Vibes (1995), Exotica (1997), A Safari Soiree (1999), Zebra (2001), and Kapalua (2003). In the mid-2000s, the themes of the annual fundraising event changed. However, in 2009, in a nod to the past, the Ball of the Wild Wild West was held outdoors at the Friendswood White House Ranch, and in 2017, the event reverted to its original theme without a specific name.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who put in their hard work to make each Ball of the Wild a great success for our attendees and recipients of our philanthropic program. We give a special shout-out to our sponsors and local businesses who generously donated funds and items for our auctions and raffles, which helped us fulfill our mission at Assistance League of the Bay Area. We also want to thank everyone who attended and supported us during the last 35 years.
The Ready for Work philanthropic program serves individuals re-entering the workforce or preparing for an incoming interview.
Some clients come to the award-winning resale shop to select items. Others who have specific job attire requirements meet a committee member at a local department store and make their selections.
Both the volunteer and recipient look happy and satisfied after a trip to a local Wal-Mart.
Assistance League® of the Bay Area supports students who participate in Communities In Schools – Bay Area at campuses located within the Clear Creek ISD and Dickinson ISD boundaries.
Chapter volunteers, referred to as Campus Liaisons, work closely with the CIS-Bay Area Student Support Specialists to provide the necessary items, so students can succeed in school academically, socially, and emotionally.
Students at Calder Road Elementary created valentines for their classmates, and Assistance League volunteer Donna James was happy to fund the supplies.
Congratulations to The Bridge Over Troubled Waters as it hosted its grand opening of the newest campus building, The Bridge for Kids.
Both the chapter, through the Assault Survivor Kits® and Ready for Work philanthropic programs, and the auxiliary, Assisteens® of the Bay Area through the Crafted with Care and Project Snuggle philanthropic programs, values the partnership with the Bridge and support their efforts in eradicating domestic violence and sexual assault.
First Lady Cecilia Abbott, Honorary Chair of the Governor’s Volunteer Awards, announced the recipients of the 40th Annual Governor’s Volunteer Awards. These awards, presented in conjunction with OneStar Foundation, honor the exemplary service of individuals, groups, and organizations that have made a significant contribution to Texas communities through service and volunteering in the past year.
The chapter is thrilled to announce one of its members, Ann Hammond, was one of three who is a recipient of the prestigious Governor’s Lifetime Achievement Award, exemplifying dedication to volunteerism spanning decades to numerous area nonprofits.
Ready for Work is a philanthropic program that helps individuals looking to re-enter the workforce successfully. This program was established as a part of the chapter’s Community Outreach initiative during the 2011-2012 fiscal year. Initially, the partnership began with the United Way of Greater Houston Bay Area Center. After a year of piloting this initiative, the membership accepted the program as a standalone service.
The main idea behind this program is to provide individuals referred by the center to come to the chapter’s award-winning resale shop. Here, with the help of a personal shopper, they can select clothing and accessories that are appropriate for an upcoming interview or the start of a new job. The program ran successfully for several years, and committee leaders recognized the need to expand the services offered.
To cater to those who require specific clothing or footwear that the shop did not carry, the program was updated in the fall of 2019. It allowed individuals to go to retail establishments to select the items they needed, and the chapter funded those purchases.
Today, the program has expanded its reach and partnerships. Besides the United Way of Greater Houston Bay Area Service Center also partners with The Bridge Over Troubled Waters, Family Promise of Clear Creek, and Workforce Solutions Clear Lake.
For the last thirteen years, Ready for Work has offered men and women re-entering the workforce after a job loss or changed domestic circumstances an opportunity to wear clothing required for the interview process and work environment.
From August through May, 900 meals are packaged for distribution to three school districts through a collaborative effort between chapter members and Assisteens® of the Bay Area through the Snack Attack Packs philanthropic program.
Recipients are students from the Deer Park ISD, La Porte ISD, and Texas City ISD, who face food insecurity. District personnel ensure these students receive a nutritional boost after chapter members deliver the final packaging to them.