NCL Peninsula Chapter Inspires Girls To Connect With Community

PALOS VERDES, CA — From the National Charity League, Inc., Peninsula Chapter:

In a digital world where young people connect across devices, in-person connections become less and less common. Philanthropic groups such as the National Charity League, Inc. flip this trend. The mothers and daughters of National Charity League, Inc., Peninsula Chapter spend six years doing philanthropic work aimed at true connection, both with the recipients of charity and with each other. By the time they graduate from high school, the young women have engaged with numerous populations and learned valuable life skills, preparing them for college, career and community.

In seventh grade, the daughters, known as Ticktockers, lead bingo games and serve as
companions for the elderly residents of Little Sisters of the Poor. In eighth grade, they organize monthly Fun Fair parties for the children at Community's Child, which empowers working poor families. Ninth grade Ticktockers usher at the Norris Theater (Palos Verdes Performing Arts Center). Tenth grade Ticktockers volunteer at the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy as Team Leaders, restoring plant habitat, preserving undeveloped land, and managing large blocks of natural open spaces. Eleventh grade Ticktockers provide meals for families at the Harbor Interfaith Emergency Shelter which supports the homeless and working poor to achieve self-sufficiency. Twelfth grade Ticktockers have the opportunity to volunteer at any of the previous philanthropies as they prepare to graduate and apply to college. In six years, these girls learn about their community through experiences with children, the elderly, the underprivileged and the local habitat. Each setting includes a variety of skills and leadership opportunities.

In addition to the grade level work, other philanthropic opportunities abound for the girls of National Charity League, Inc., Peninsula Chapter. They can sign up to help at a variety of local charities such as Whiskers and Tails to help find forever homes for furry friends, Freedom 4U which assists in peer mentoring at the Boys and Girls Club and feeding and listening to the homeless at the Long Beach Rescue Mission, Operation Homefront, Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, Heal the Bay, Little Company of Mary, Torrance Memorial, Community Helpline, PVPUSD Student Aide programs and more. These partnerships round out the girls’ experiences to add time with hospitalized patients, the homeless, military families, young students and even pets and sea life. All of these interactions take place without a cellular device and require eye contact and conversation skills with the community and other volunteers.

To top it all off, beginning in their Freshman year, these young women dedicate hours of service to the Ticktocker Thrift Shop in San Pedro. This unique volunteer experience gives them the opportunity to interact with customers, run a cash register, and learn the daily operations of a retail shop. Last year, NCL, Inc. Peninsula Chapter distributed Ticktocker Thrift Shop net proceeds totaling $250,000! These proceeds fund full college scholarships and numerous local philanthropies.

The mothers and daughters of the NCL, Inc., Peninsula Chapter work hard to help the
community and do so in numerous ways. Directly connecting with humans, animals and even plants creates lasting impressions. In this digital age with fears of the negative impact of screen time on the developing brain, NCL Inc., Peninsula Chapter and similar organizations may have found a win-win solution. Spending time focused on others and relating and connecting from the heart helps both the givers and the receivers. These experiences during formative years will carry far into the future. Many thanks to all the young philanthropists and community organizations that foster these mutually beneficial good deeds.