The Las Positas College Transfer Scholarship awarded to Ishmeet Dhillon.  She will be attending Yale University in the fall. The  Assistance League® of Amador Valley Scholarship awarded to  Thomas Chan from Amador Valley High School. He will be attending Harvard College in the fall. Gianna Buscho, graduating from Pleasanton Virtual Academy attending UC Santa Cruz in the fall. The  Tri–Valley Community Scholarship awarded to Laina Stifter,  graduated from Granada High School, & Luca Moore,  graduated from Amador Valley High School. Both attending Las Positas College in the fall.

Congratulations to our recipients for 2025!

For more details, click here!

We are proud to announce giving $7,500 in funding to three Tri-Valley area graduates who will be continuing their educations: Joshua Skrzypczak at UCLA, Danielle Islas at California State University East Bay, and David Peregrina at Las Positas College.

Congratulations to our recipients for 2024!

Award recipients are chapter members who have been a member for a significant number of years and have given outstanding “behind the scenes” service. The award is named for the co-founder of Assistance League, Ada Edwards Laughlin, who was less visible and filled the role of hardworking “behind the scenes” assistant to Anne Banning.

This year’s recipient of the 2023-2024 Ada Edwards Laughlin Award is Carolyn Pitcher.  She has served as:

• The Corresponding Secretary,
• The Chair of Screening Eyes Early Program,
• Vice President Philanthropic Programs,
• Mentor Chair where she revised the program and it is flourishing thanks to her efforts,
• And, with her husband, Dave, this power couple is the largest selling contingent — selling hundreds of Poinsettias plants to local Rotary members in our annual fundraiser.

Thank you Carolyn!

Shoes were on the top of everyone’s list of purchase. The children were told, “The sky’s the limit, pick out the shoes that you really love!” 

Many children walked away with shoes they never thought they would ever be able to call their own! How excited the children were to choose their own school clothes. We are happy to report that jackets, sweatshirts, leggings, tops, jeans, and underwear were among the children’s favorites

For 22 years, Assistance League® of Amador Valley has supported this crucial program called Operation School Bell®. It has clothed 7,472 students since it began. The goal of is this program is to boost the esteem of children, which leads to strengthening a children’s ability to learn. Studies have shown that children who attend school inappropriately dressed are at a disadvantage to learning, while wearing appropriate school clothing that fits and blends in with their peers, can improve school attendance and help classroom performances

Each fall, select children are invited to come to Kohl’s in Livermore or Pleasanton where they are paired with a personal shopper—a member of Assistance League® of Amador Valley. Each child personally shops with one volunteer and is encouraged to choose and enjoy selecting their individual school clothes. The money to support this wonderful program is received through grant writing, fundraising events and personal donations to Assistance League of Amador Valley.

This year, along with being able to shop for the school clothes of their choice, the children we encouraged to pick out an age-appropriated book and then receive a dental hygiene kit. These latter two items were organized and donated by the Pleasanton North Rotary, Children’s Healthy Smiles Project, and Liberty Dental. Upon leaving, the students and their parents expressed a heartfelt thank you!

Learn more about Operation School Bell – Clothing the Children

Click here

ALAV’s Vice President of Resource Development, Debbie Flatt, received the grant award on October 26, 2023 at TVNA’s reception where a total of $40,000 in grants were distributed to many fantastic local organizations.

Congratulations to all recipients!

Read more about our grantors . . .

This year’s recipient of the 2022-2023 Ada Edwards Laughlin Award is Marti Vattuone.  She has been:

• Member of Assistance League of Amador Valley for many years – check!
• Chair of our Birthday Bags program
• Active in all of our fundraising activities, serving on the committees for both the Crab Feast and the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party every year
• Instrumental in getting our Melo’s Dining Out Fundraiser up and running
• Served on our inaugural Scholarship Committee
• Served as the Livermore School District representative for our Foster Kids Program
• Sssisted in almost all of our philanthropic programs throughout the years
• Hardworking, she is! – check!

Thank you Marti!

We are proud to announce giving, for the first time, two scholarships to graduating high school seniors living in the Tri-Valley area. The Jean Cole Scholarship is awarded to a student planning to attend a four-year college or university. The Tri-Valley Community Scholarship is awarded to a student planning to attend a community college or vocational/trade school.

“The Assistance League® of Amador Valley Scholarship Program was developed in 2022 after receiving a generous donation from Bob Cole, in memory of his wife and ALAV member, Jean Cole,” explained Vicki Gordillo, Scholarship Chairman.

“Jean was an incredibly special member always stepping up whenever needed, helping those less fortunate in our communities. The Jean Cole Scholarship is a most fitting recognition of Jean’s accomplishments.”

Cassandra Raphael received the $2,500 Assistance League® of Amador Valley Jean Cole Scholarship. Cassandra is graduating from Foothill High School in Pleasanton. She has been accepted into the University of Portland Nursing Program. ALAV was impressed with her community service activities. She volunteered for her synagogue youth program and preschool program. She is a Girl Scout, hosts clothing drives, packages gifts for overseas military personal, and worked as a nanny during her high school years.

Serena Helm received the $1,000 Assistance League® of Amador Valley Tri- Valley Community Scholarship. Serena graduated early from Valley High School in Dublin. She will attend Los Positas College in the fall semester and plans to transfer to American River College’s Funeral Services Program. Serena has proudly volunteered at Dublin’s Heritage Park and Museum, Valley Christian Church, and has provided homeless outreach. Currently she is working two jobs to prepare for her future.

For more information, visit Scholarship Program or call 925.461.6401.

To see more details and all our wonderful grantors, please visit our Grants webpage.

The Food Pantry is now located at 150 N L Street in Livermore. Reney, Manager of the Food Pantry, gave our chairs a personal tour of the new facility. Wow! It was spacious and will better serve the community’s needs.

The Food Pantry distributes free groceries to over 4,000 low-income Tri-Valley residents. ALAV was acknowledged for being the only group that supplies them milk and eggs on a weekly basis! It was a proud moment to be acknowledged for our contribution in helping them to serve those less fortunate.

For the calendar year June 2021 through May 2022, our membership has supported the Food Pantry. Our members shop together with funds raised by our chapter’s fundraising efforts and deliver on a weekly basis the following items:

• Over 40 gallons of milk
• 25 dozen of eggs
• Over 20-30 pounds of frozen meat
• Several bags of fruit, and
• Cases of flour, sugar and oil

It is so fulfilling to help others in our community who need a helping hand, especially during these trying post-pandemic times.

TVH: What is the Assistance League of Amador Valley (ALAV)?

Bobbie: The Assistance League of Amador Valley is a chapter of the national nonprofit organization, the Assistance League. We do many outreach events to help our community, for example, a Clothing the Children event. Unfortunately, this year we had to postpone this activity due to COVID. However, instead we provided over 400 headsets/ear pieces and microphones so students could attend school online!

We also purchase birthday bags for children of different ages who reside at Tri-Valley Haven’s shelters. The bags provide age appropriate gifts and supplies to throw a party and to decorate. The bags even include a gift card to buy a birthday cake! ALAV also provides hearing tests and seeing tests for kindergarteners and first graders when we have the resources. If needed, we offer referrals to specialists who are among our members. Another event the Assistance League sponsors, when we are not in a pandemic, is a Valentine’s Day Event at the Pleasanton Senior Center. The Assistance League also provided approximately 2,000 books this year to primary school children.

The Assistance League of Amador Valley has donated to Tri-Valley Haven programs for almost six years. Since the pandemic started, our members have provided Tri-Valley Haven’s food pantry and families in great economic need with eggs, milk, sugar, flour, bread and cooking oil. We also contribute chicken and meat products when our budget allows. These items are essential and greatly needed as the food pantry often runs out of these necessities.

ALAV has been sending out mailers to raise donations because we are not holding fundraisers at this time. We are STILL receiving contributions from the community which is amazing! Thankfully, we have been able to provide double the food to the Haven’s pantry!

TVH: Amazing, we appreciate your contributions so much! What about TVH grabbed the interest of the Amador Valley chapter?

Bobbie: We started about six years ago, providing groceries and other items, helping to stock the food pantry shelves. Our members believe it is a win-win situation because not only are we helping our community, but it is dear to our hearts and brings us enjoyment as well.

TVH: Is there anything specific that you are offering the community during COVID?

Bobbie: Each committee in the ALAV has a specific goal and budget for the year. The Food for Families committee, was able to increase its donations to Tri-Valley Haven’s food pantry from twice a month to weekly. When I was there last week, we served 30 families, but then the following day we served 50 families! All the milk we bring is gone the same day! I think there is a lot more local need out there than a lot of us have realized.

TVH: Right it is very challenging right now. If people want to get involved with ALAV, what should they do?

Bobbie: If people would like more information, they can contact us at Amador Valley, P.O 11843 Pleasanton, CA, 94588 or visit our website at assistanceleague.org/Amador-valley

It’s a very rewarding program and we make a big impact!

Tri-Valley Haven thanks Bobbie for her time. We appreciate the Assistance League of Amador Valley for their consistent support throughout the years!

(This article appeared in Tri-Valley Haven’s Customer e-Newsletter, titled Winter Outreach, Assistance League & More, February 25, 2021.)