Anne Banning and her close friend and co-founder, Ada Edwards Laughlin, were instrumental in the early days of organized charity in the United States. Both women married into influential families—Anne’s father-in-law, Phineas Banning, was known as the ‘Father of the Port of Los Angeles,’ while her husband, Hancock Banning, played a key role in the development of Catalina Island. Ada, a Stanford graduate and teacher, was also a proponent of women’s basketball and married Homer Laughlin Jr., whose family created the iconic Fiesta Dinnerware.

Anne and a group of prominent women began their charitable work in the mid-1890s under the name Assistance League. Their efforts extended beyond local boundaries, including significant relief work for the victims of the San Francisco earthquake. Anne’s innovative fundraising approaches, such as establishing a ‘pay to attend’ model for charity events, became a blueprint for successful nonprofit fundraising. During World War I, Anne organized and served as the Director of the Los Angeles Red Cross Chapter.

(Left Picture: Ann Banning)

In 1919, Anne, Ada, and their friends formalized the Assistance League of Southern California, providing food and clothing for local families severely impacted by the war. Their work quickly expanded with the establishment of a neighborhood Community House that offered a variety of programs and services, and later became a model for public and private agencies.

Their legacy of service and dedication to helping those in need remains a guiding principle of the Assistance League today. By the time Anne and Ada retired in 1948, there were already ten local chapters throughout Southern California. Today, there are 120 chapters nationwide.

(Left Picture – Ada Laughlin)

The Assistance League of Santa Ana was organized in 1935 by Mrs. James (Katharine) Irvine and officially chartered in 1937 with 42 members. This chapter became the third link in the expanding chain of Assistance League chapters, following the Southern California and San Pedro chapters.

Guided by the philanthropic vision of Mrs. Anne Banning, Mrs. Irvine and her friends began their service mission by hosting bridge games at her ranch to raise funds for community projects. Their first significant donation, $1,500, was made to Santa Ana’s Ebell Club Day Care.

Today, the Assistance League of Santa Ana continues to serve the local community with a variety of programs, including Operation School Bell®, the Katharine Irvine Dental Center, and the College Scholarship Program. The chapter also runs a Thrift Shop on its campus, which helps fund these and other community outreach initiatives.