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San Jose

ABOUT US

Assistance League of San Jose is a volunteer, nonprofit organization whose members have had a passion for supporting vital community services since 1983. We are a chapter of the national organization, Assistance League®, which was organized as a national nonprofit in 1935. 

Our Mission: Assistance League volunteers transforming the lives of children and adults through community programs
Our Vision: Essential needs are meet in our community and families flourish

Our community service programs are designed to serve unmet needs in the community. Chapter volunteers donate thousands of volunteer hours yearly. In addition to working directly within the community, our members conduct and administer all community service programs without paid staff. All programs are funded through grants, donations and fundraising activities. We invite you to “click” your way through our website to learn more about the Assistance League of San Jose and the women who make it work.

View our recent Past President’s Year End Presentation and speech for program performance details.
2024-25 Year-End Presentation
2024-25 Year-End Speech

  • Members volunteered over 28,000 hours to our programs and committees.
  • We raised $200,500 in fiscal year 2024/2025 returning 94% to the community.
  • Assist-a-Shelter supported three shelters. In fiscal year 2024/2025 members bagged donated food items and assembled toiletry kits for homeless and needy families, supplied needed infant products, read to children and their moms, prepared and delivered dinners once a month, baked and delivered cookies, distributed gift cards and hosted special events for children and adults.
  • Bingo played bingo with residents for socialization at two senior residences and distributed gift bags, handmade crocheted lap blankets and quilts.
  • Caring Hands donated over 5,000 items (handmade baby blankets, onesies, lap blankets, quilts and pillows) to community hospitals, Family Supportive Housing, Parisi House on the Hill and two senior residences.  
  • Hug-a-Bear gave 800 teddy bears for children in crisis to five city and county agencies.  
  • Listening to Readers volunteers listened to students read in 48 second and third grade classrooms, helping them read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.  
  • Operation School Bell® purchased and stored over 20,000 items of clothing (uniform shirts and pants; socks; sweatshirts; and underwear) for the 2024-2025 school year which were distributed to San Jose schools in three districts, Family Supportive Housing Parisi House on the Hill and the Alum Rock Homeless Foster Youth Program.  
  • Readers Are Leaders read and distributed books with accompanying activities to almost over 1,000 students in 49 classrooms. 588 books were given to teachers, 7,441 books given to students to keep, enrichment activities accompanied the books and an additional 3,500 books were gifted to students for summer reading. $50 grants were given to teachers to purchase books for their classrooms.  
  • Screening Eyes Early tested 528 children in 19 pre-schools, referring 20 students for glasses or further testing.

Board of Directors

  • Karen Hengst
    Board President
  • Jane Earle
    First Vice President, Membership
  • Margot Harrigan
    Second Vice President, Community Service Programs
  • Rocki Kramer
    Third Vice President, Resource Development
  • Patricia Harrold
    Recording Secretary
  • Eleanor Vade Bon Coeur
    Treasurer
  • Helen Danna
    Budget and Finance
  • Sylvain Roberts
    Director at Large
  • Carole Van Buskirk
    Director at Large

Reports

Assistance League is designated as an IRS 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our nonprofit Tax ID Number is # 77-0033914. We raise funds through donations, special fundraising events, grants, and direct mail. Our chapter annually returns almost 94% of the funds raised to the community. Because we are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, your donation is 100% tax deductible. All funds stay in the San Jose community.

2024 – 2025 Budget

Tax Form / 990

Independent Accountant’s Financial Review 05.31.2025

Conflict of Interest Policy

Non-Discrimination Policy

Whistleblower Policy

Record Retention Policy

Social Media Policy

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