Assistance League was the first nonprofit, nonpolitical, nonsectarian organization founded in the West to recognize the potential of volunteers in helping those less fortunate to a better, more meaningful life. Today, chapters across America address the emotional and physical needs of children and adults of all ages regardless of race or creed.

Our founder, Mrs. Hancock Banning, was born Anne Ophelia Smith in 1871 in Los Angeles. Her mother, Susan Glassell Patton, came to Los Angeles in 1865 as a widow of Colonel George Patton with their four children. Susan married Attorney George Hugh Smith, who was a former beau and also a classmate of her late husband. They had two children: Eltinge Hugh who died at an early age and Anne. Anne was educated at home until age 12, when her mother died and she was sent to Virginia. At 18 she returned to Los Angeles, and in 1890, married Hancock Banning, son of Los Angeles pioneer Phineas Banning.

Co-founder Ada Edwards Laughlin was born in 1875 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Her family moved to northern California when she was 17 and she attended Stanford University as a hygiene major, class of 1898, Kappa Alpha Theta member. She taught school before her marriage in 1904 to Homer Laughlin Jr. They lived in Los Angeles and met Anne and Hancock through the Los Angeles busy social scene.

Anne Banning was a member of a small group of prominent Los Angeles ladies who did local charitable work beginning in the mid 1890’s, calling it Assistance League. In April 1906, the women of Assistance League responded to the San Francisco earthquake and fire by collecting money and sewing clothes that were sent to San Francisco to aid the members of the Bohemian Club, Hancock Banning’s club. The next year, the newspaper reported the ladies “wished to be a permanent organization and be of assistance to everyone who needs it.” As merica entered the war in Europe, Anne Banning organized the Los Angeles Red Cross unit in 1917 and served as Director. Its fundraising unit was the Red Cross Shop, which became the model for Red Cross shops across the country, using Anne Banning’s printed guidelines.

In 1919, Anne Banning and a group of 12 friends, including Ada Edwards Laughlin, formed Assistance League of Southern California, also known as Founder Chapter, to provide food and clothing for local families severely impacted by World War I. The first offices were in downtown Los Angeles and in 1923 a bungalow was purchased in the Hollywood neighborhood where Founder Chapter continues today. The first services were Good Samaritan, Day Nursery, Girls’ Club and Theatre for Children. Film Location Bureau, Attic Tearoom, Women’s Exchange and Trousseau Shop provided the revenue. Originating between 1920 and 1930, these were pioneer services emulated by both public and private agencies.

As needs in adjoining communities were recognized, other organizations wished to follow this philanthropic philosophy. Anne Banning and Ada Laughlin organized National Assistance League® in 1935 to promote the growth of effective volunteerism through leadership training and education. The first office was located in a room provided by Founder Chapter in the Day Nursery building. Nine organizations, including Junior Charity League of San Pedro and the Glendale and Pasadena auxiliaries of Founder Chapter, petitioned to be chartered as chapters of National Assistance League. Mrs. Banning continued as President of Founder Chapter and National Assistance League through 1948. By the time Anne and Ada retired in 1948, there were chapters in San Pedro, Santa Ana, Santa Monica, Long Beach, Pasadena, Glendale, Pomona Valley, San Bernardino and Santa Barbara.

Naional Assistance League was incorporated in August 1949 as an organization separate from Assistance League of Southern California. The first meeting of the National Council was held in September 1949, with representatives and alternates attending from 10 chapters.

In 1951, Anne Banning died and Ada Edwards Laughlin retired from social and civic affairs due to illness. The number of chapters increased and the expanded areas were divided into regions. Assistance League of San Mateo County was the first chapter outside of Southern California (1953). In 1958, Assistance League of Denver became the first chapter in Colorado and the first outside of California to be chartered. That same year Assistance League of Bakersfield was chartered, bringing with it the philanthropic project Operation School Bell®, formed by member Ruth Ann Montgomery and her Volunteer Service Guild.

“Interim Regions” were established until three or more chapters in a region were chartered. The first meeting of Region I Council was held in 1956 with representatives of 22 chapters attending. In 1967, with 42 chapters of the national organization, the United States was divided into six regions and grew to eight regions. In June 1996, the regions were realigned into districts.

Anne Banning felt it was fine to serve youth, but important for youth to serve. Informal “girl groups” began in the 1930’s and were consolidated in 1944. Shirley Temple was a member of the Beverly Thrifties who supported the thrift shop. In 1959, guidelines were prepared for auxiliaries of members under the age of twenty-one. The name “Assisteens®” was adopted in 1961 and registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark office in 1965. The first Assisteens Assembly was held in 1964 with 18 auxiliaries represented.

In 1965, National Assistance League purchased a cottage at 5538 Fernwood , Hollywood, for its headquarters. In 1970, a four-unit apartment building at 5627 Fernwood was purchased and remodeled for headquarters, following the sale of the cottage to Founder Chapter. Seven years later, with the increased expansion of Assistance League, the Executive Committee approved the recommendation to build a larger building on the same property. Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley dedicated the new headquarters in 1982. In June 2003, the building was sold and the national organization moved to office space in Burbank, CA.

In 1985, the first 50 years of service were celebrated. The golden chain of chapter links, which then encompassed 72 chapters in 17 states, represented 16,155 dedicated volunteer members.

The first issue of the National Assistance League Newsletter was published in 1957 and continues as eNewsLink. The names National Assistance League and Assistance League were registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark office in 1962. In 1997, Operation School Bell was adopted as the national philanthropic program. The next year a website, www.nal.org, was launched.

Convention 2003 introduced members to the new brand that makes a strong visual appeal and with the intent to unite all chapters nationally. The national website was updated and renamed www.AssistanceLeague.org. In 2013, 120 chapters had more than 26,000 member volunteers who gave 3.2 million service hours, returned more than $38 million to local communities and assisted 1.5 million people in need.

Through the gift of service to their communities, Assistance League chapters continue to fulfill Anne Banning’s philosophy of volunteer service: “To act as a friend at any and all times to men, women and children in need of care, guidance and assistance, spiritually, materially and physically.” Today, Assistance League is a national nonprofit organization that puts caring and commitment into action through community-based philanthropic programs.