Assistance League of Pasadena (ALP) was founded in 1936 and became the sixth chapter of National Assistance League in 1941. We are a nonprofit, nonpolitical, nonsectarian volunteer organization that puts caring and commitment into action through our philanthropic programs serving specific needs of the community. Our Pasadena chapter is one of 120 Assistance League chapters with 22,000 members nationwide.

EATON FIRE RELIEF

In response to the devastation caused by the Eaton Fire in January 2025, ALP created a new philanthropy to respond to the needs of the local community. The recovery efforts will take several years and ALP is committed to continued support of our local communities. For the period January 2025 through May 31, 2025, ALP has spent $67,000 to support fire recovery efforts.

Grants and Donations in Support of Fire Relief

ALP has provided grants and assistance to the following organizations:

  • Friends In Deed to assist with repairs to the building which houses the Women’s Room
  • Friends In Deed Food pantry
  • Pasadena Senior Center Food pantry
  • Pasadena Educational Foundation’s Eaton Fire Recovery Fund
  • Pasadena Community Foundation’s Eaton Fire Recovery Fund
  • Altadena Rotary’s Eaton Fire Recovery Grant Program
  • Union Station’s Eaton Fire Recovery Assistance
  • Pasadena Boys and Girls Club, in partnership with Assistance League of Laguna, to fund camperships for local children impacted by the fire.
  • PUSD’s Child Welfare and Attendance

Navigator Program

  • The Navigator program was created to assist seniors as they seek to rebuild their lives after the devasting losses caused by the fire, pairs a senior with a volunteer who will assist them in addressing the impact of the catastrophe on their lives and properties. Navigators will be trained to assist with the development and completion of inventory lists, action plans, applications for assistance, drafting correspondence with insurance companies, government agencies, FEMA and SBA and providing referrals to subject matter experts as necessary

PHILANTHROPIC PROGRAMS

  • Operation School Bell® is our signature program which provides clothing for school children in need. Included in this philanthropy is School Supplies for Success. Students are identified through referrals from principals, counselors and community assistants in the Pasadena Unified School District and from our partner organizations. The program supplies uniforms, shoe cards, personal care items, school supplies and a book to elementary students. During the 2024-2025 school year, we provided 1043 students with back packs and clothing through OSB. We provided 830 packets of school supplies and 18 backpacks through School Supplies for Success and funded 133 vouchers for students at Blair to purchase gym uniforms. The goals of these programs are to build self-esteem and enable the students to be better prepared to learn. ALP also donated back packs to Door of Hope for their back to school event.
  • Educational Advancement is a new philanthropy created in 2024 to provide educational support to youth in the Pasadena area, with a special emphasis on post-secondary education for youth aging out of the foster care system. In 2024-2025 AL Pasadena aided the following programs:
  • Hillsides: Youth Moving On: In 2024-2025, AL Pasadena provided funding to Hillsides: Youth Moving On, for the purchase of grocery cards and metro to support the clients of Youth Moving On. This program provides transition education, housing and other services ages 16-25 to help them find lasting independence and personal fulfillment.
  • Very Important Performers was established in 2010 to honor middle school students who have demonstrated dramatic improvements in one or more of the following areas: attendance, academics or behavior over the course of a semester; or have made a positive difference in their school environment. Students receive a certificate and a Target gift card at a recognition ceremony through their schools.
  • VIP PLUS was established to provide an experiential enrichment learning experience to students in grades six through ten, outside of the school environment. In 2024-2025, ALP provided a stipend to fund classes in art, music, science, technology, dance and sports to eight students nominated by their respective schools. This program is intended to recognize students who have made positive improvements during the school year.
  • Care & Comfort is a program which provides clothing items and hygiene kits to help restore dignity and reduce the hurt often experienced by survivors of assault, individuals experiencing homelessness and those in crisis. Kits are distributed through community partners which include first responders in the cities of Pasadena, South Pasadena, Sierra Madre, and hospitals as well as local community based organizations. In 2024-2025 Care & Comfort provided distributed 1,947 hygiene kits,1,350 clothing kits, and 270 jackets, through our various partners.
  • Bear Hugs provides teddy bears as huggable friends to comfort neglected, abused, or traumatized children. In 2024-2025, our program distributed over 4,575 teddy bears to children experiencing trauma. We also provided 1,125 coloring books, crayons, sticker sets, and play doh® as part of this program.  These items were distributed by our partners which include first responders in the cities of Pasadena, South Pasadena, Sierra Madre, local hospitals and other community based organizations.
  • Friends In Deed: The Women’s Room: This program was introduced as a SNAP! Program in 2023-2024. This program is now a permanent philanthropic program. Our volunteers assembled and donated 2820 packets of non-perishable food to be distributed to unhoused women for the days when The Women’s Room is closed
  • Assistance League SNAP! (Serving Neighbors Around Pasadena) is designed to give our volunteers the flexibility they need to quickly respond to community needs as they arise on a one-time-only basis. In 2024-25 AL Pasadena supported the following projects:
  • Friends In Deed: Members supported Toy Drive
  • Union Station Donation to Thanksgiving in the Park, holiday meal program
  • Union Station Donation to Holiday Toy Drive
  • PUSD Child Welfare and Attendance Program: Provided gift cards in support of attendance incentives and provided direct support to two families facing food insecurity. Items provided to the family included gift cards to Target and Vallarta. The families were identified and selected by the Student Welfare staff.

FUNDRAISING

Treasure Fair Thrift Shop’s revenues support AL Pasadena’s philanthropic programs. It is staffed entirely by members and community volunteers and is stocked with donated clothing, household items, books, furniture, jewelry, novelties, collectibles and more.

Annual Appeal: Our members and community friends show their support of our chapter by donating to our Annual Appeal. In 2024-2025, our supporters generously contributed over $82,000 to this campaign.

Tributes and Memorials: Contributions to our chapter from members and the community are always welcome – in honor of, in loving memory of, or to commemorate special events.

Grants: Our Grants Committee seeks grants each year from charitable foundations and community organizations. In 2024-2025, we gratefully accepted funding from the Albertson Company Foundation, the Pasadena Host Lions Club Memorial Trust, the Green Foundation and the Jameson Foundation.

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

To increase the support to the Pasadena, Altadena and Sierra Madre communities, AL Pasadena has developed strategic partnerships with the following organizations:

  • Altadena Sheriff’s Station
  • Door of Hope
  • Families Forward
  • Friends In Deed
  • Hillsides: Youth Moving On
  • Huntington Health
  • LAC/USC Violence Intervention Program
  • LAC/USC Violence Intervention Program – El Monte Satellite
  • Pasadena Hear Center
  • Monrovia Police Department
  • Pasadena Fire Department
  • Pasadena Police Department
  • Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD)
  • PUSD Student Welfare and Attendance.
  • Peace Over Violence (Los Angeles Office)
  • Sexual Assault Response Team (SART)
  • Shepherd’s Door
  • Shriners For Children Medical Center
  • Sierra Madre Fire Department
  • Union Station Homeless Services
  • Young & Healthy
  • South Pasadena Police Department
  • South Pasadena Fire Department
  • Families in Transition
  • Pasadena/Altadena Coalition of Transformative Leaders (PACTL)

Assistance League of Pasadena is classified by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and donors may deduct contributions to our organization as provided in section 170 of the IRS Code. Our Federal Tax ID # is 95-1891341.`

Assistance League of Pasadena is classified by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and donors may deduct contributions to our organization as provided in section 170 of the IRS Code. Our Federal Tax ID # is 95-1891341.