Assistance League of Greater Collin County
Circa 2015

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The Assistance League of Greater Collin County has a new website. Go to http://algcc.org/ for the most up to date information regarding this nonprofit, nonpolitical, nonsectarian charitable organization. This was their former website. Content is from the site's 2015 archived pages.

Assistance League of Greater Collin County is a nonprofit, philanthropic organization whose dedicated volunteers put caring and commitment into action by serving residents in need.

To be a recognized leader empowering volunteers through our chapter to meet changing needs in Greater Collin County.

Assistance League of Greater Collin County embraces the following values:

• Commitment – Compassionate and caring service
• Leadership – Professionalism that is visionary, ethical and sensitive
• Accountability – Fiscal responsibility
• Respect – Fair and equitable treatment for those we serve
• Ethics – Integrity and authenticity in communications and actions.

What Assistance League Does

Assistance League of Greater Collin County is a 50l(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpolitical, nonsectarian charitable organization whose goal is assisting people in our community. The chapter is the 103rd chapter nationally and over 25,000+ members, including 2,600+ Assisteens® of National Assistance League®.

Nationally, the chapters return $38 million to local communities, in 2012-2013, touching 1.5 million children, seniors and families to whom volunteers have given 2.8 million hours of service. This chapter has no paid staff, and all members volunteer their time to perform philanthropic and fundraising work.

The chapter exists for the sole purpose of providing philanthropic services to meet the challenges posed by a diverse array of individual and community needs. Community based philanthropic programs are built through needs assessments, identifying community problems and delivering the solutions to fit the need. Funds are raised through volunteer activities and used to provide services for the community.

ABOUT US

History

Assistance League of Greater Collin County has been a steady presence in Collin County since 1996. Founded in 1996 as a guild, the chapter started with thirteen enthusiastic women. In 1997, National Assistance League® selected Operation School Bell® as a national program for each chapter to implement in their community.

In October 1998 the guild completed the requirements to become the 103rd chapter of National Assistance League®.

If you would like to learn more about Assistance League of Greater Collin County, click the logo below to access the Nonprofit Report provided by GuideStar:

Philanthropic Programs

Members develop, fund and participate in programs that provide new school clothing for hundreds of children in need, provide activities for senior citizens, donate and distribute reading materials to patients and families at local hospitals, and support grieving parents. The chapter also addresses short term needs in the community.

Philanthropic Programs

Operation School Bell®
Pass the Word
Wee Memories
Outreach
Caring in Action

President's Annual Report 2013-2014

Location

2011 W. Spring Creek Parkway, Suite 1500
Plano, Texas 75023
(The office is located at the northeast corner of Custer Road and Spring Creek Parkway in Plano.)

News & Events

Orientation for New Members

October 2015

An orientation for six new members to Assistance League of Greater Collin County was recently held at the chapter’s office to welcome new members, who have joined over the past six months. This is a regular event held to describe the work and programs of the chapter, introduce Board members and answer questions they may have. We have an enthusiastic group of women who want to become involved and some have already done so. 
Seen in one photo is Sherie Wiser, Vice President of Philanthropic Programs, describing a shower basket project which was done for Meals on Wheels last year. Also Barbara Stiebling and Mary Ann Dixon with the Hospitality Committee provided tasteful snacks for the meeting.

Pat on the Back goes to deserving member Julie Lewis

October 2015

Julie Lewis received the well deserved "Pat on the Back" recognition at our October regular meeting. Julie feels comfortable working behind the scenes, and as usual brought her enthusiasm and "get it done" spirit to this commitment. Over the summer Julie focused on office fix ups and beautification, obtained a grant from Joplins, attended the National Conference with our president and organized a very successful office meeting of all the McKinney counselors and SIC personnel to show off our office and explain Operation School Bell®. Julie is on a referral team that processes requests from school counselors for clothing, and volunteers her time and expertise wherever there is a need. Thank you, Julie, for your dedication to our chapter. Seen here is Julie Lewis (in red) with Diana Springate, Vice President Membership.

 

 

Operation School Bell® Toothpaste and Toothbrush Drive

October 2015

The students at Pearson Elementary School in Plano presented Operation School Bell® Vice Chairman Judy Wharton with 122 tubes of toothpaste and 220 toothbrushes which they had raised through a school-wide drive. Schools are invited to hold their own toothpaste and toothbrush drives for Assistance League which in turn will be given out to students with clothes. Seen here are Sherie Wiser, Vice President Philanthropy Programs and Judy Wharton, Chairman Operation School Bell® along with staff from Pearson and students who participated in the drive.

 

 

 

Hunt Construction Company Supports Assistance League

October 2015

The Hunt Construction Group golf tournament was a terrific success! Total proceeds from this year were $53, 870 which will help clothe more than 500 children. We can’t thank Jack Sovern and this wonderful company enough for designating the Assistance League of Greater Collin County as recipients for the seventh year. We have been given a total of over $350,000 during this time, and have clothed many children in need. The money will be put to immediate use through the Operation School Bell® program. We especially want to thank the many supporters and volunteers who worked very hard to put this fundraiser together.

Plano Balloon Festival

September 2015

The Assistance League of Greater Collin County was honored again this year to be part of the 2015 InTouch Credit Union Plano Balloon Festival.The proceeds of the Balloon Festival are shared with other non-profit organizations in the Plano area, including Assistance League of Greater Collin County, which in turn helps to fund the chapter's community service programs. Members volunteered by selling and taking tickets at Gate 1. It was a long, hot but fun day with the balloons and festival attendees. The chapter appreciates all the support it gets from this worthwhile, fun activity.

North Texas Giving Day – Successful Annual Fundraiser

September 17, 2015

The office was alive and full of energetic members and visitors on North Texas Giving Day, what has become an annual event in the area for charities. A gourmet buffet feast was prepared by the Hospitality Committee chaired by Barbara Steibling for all to share. Quite a few guests dropped by to enjoy the tours, food, hospitality and to make a donation. Ms Steibling announced a special fundraising opportunity via an online casino - which is generously committing to split the profit from all player who sign up during the month of March. While there was some controversy regarding a funding source based on gambling, we feel that anyone who wishes to participate will know in advance and can choose to not participate. You can read the reviews in advance - we'll be sending out a dedicated link to make it easy to get involved. We want to thank the friends, families and members who supported the work we do, and providing a fun day. Your generosity will help us clothe 500 children through Operation School Bell®. The day was organized by the Resource Development Committee, chaired by Linda Hopkins and Michele Miller.

A number of community donors contributed prizes for the doors prizes and we would like to acknowledge them.

Couldn’t have done it without You!

Whole Foods, Market Street, SDalon Savvy, Cookies by Design, Henry’s Ice Cream, Harvest Seasonal Kitchen, Providence Pottery, Covino’s Pasta & Pizza, Sugar’N’Spice Bakery, Original Pancake House, Callaways, Mary Kay Cosmetics, Tex Mex Salsa, Home Depot, Lowes, Starbucks

Support through Amazon Smile

September 2015

 

Select Assistance League of Greater Collin County as your charity of choice for Amazon Smile. It’s easy. Go to Smile.Amazon.com and select your account, if you already have one. Otherwise, you will have to set up an account. On the dropdown for your account, click “Change Your Charity.” Type in “Assistance League of Greater Collin County”, click Search. The name will come up and then Select. The name will appear on your account home page each time you order through Smile.Amazon.com. A great way to support the work the chapter does with clothing children and helping others in Collin County. Ask your friends and family to do the same. A small portion of what is purchased will go to the chapter.

Grant received from Frisco Roughriders

August 2015

Members of Assistance League of Greater Collin County accepted a generous grant from Frisco Roughriders Foundation at a game recently. The grant will help our Operation School Bell program provide clothes for Collin County elementary school children in need.

 

Seen here are Charlotte Grimm, Julie Lewis and Susan Freeze at the grant presentation

An Easy Way to Support

June 2015

Did you know you can support Assistance League by donating your Kroger Rewards Points to the chapter? Kroger will convert these points to dollars and donate them to us. What a simple way to raise money to support programs to help others!

To do this, simply click on the link below and follow the directions. Be sure to have your Kroger Rewards Card on hand for the number on the back of the card.

https://www.kroger.com/communityrewards

Board Members Attend Texas Networking Event

June 2015

Ten members of the chapter attended Texas Networking in Georgetown, Texas. Attendees had a fun and informative time networking with other chapters, sharing ideas and projects. It also was an opportunity to get updates from the National Assistance League. Sherie Wiser, Vice President for Philanthropic Programs, shared the projects generated by the Caring In Action Committee this year and Linda Hopkins, Vice President of Resource Development described the chapter’s successful participation in the 2014 Texas Day of Giving.

Pass The Word Volunteers Recognized by Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital-Plano

April 2015

Pass the Word has been an integral part of volunteer services at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital for over twelve years. Recently members were recognized for their service at a Volunteer Appreciation Dinner where other volunteers who serve their community.

 

Fashion Luncheon Proceeds Help Us Help Others

April 2015

A fun fashion luncheon was held at Heritage Ranch for members and guests to relax and enjoy viewing Chico’s fashions. Some young students modeled the clothing given out as part of the Operation School Bell® program. Ellie Huff, from Texas Health Presbyterian Plano Hospital spoke on women’s heart health. Proceeds from donations and the luncheon will help the chapter cover the cost of clothing including shoes. So far this year over 1,400 children in Collin County have been clothed.

 

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More Background On AssistanceLeague-GCC.org

 

AssistanceLeague-GCC.org served for many years as the primary website of the Assistance League of Greater Collin County (often abbreviated ALGCC), a volunteer-powered nonprofit organisation dedicated to meeting the needs of children and families across Collin County, Texas. Although the chapter eventually migrated to a newer web domain, the archived version of AssistanceLeague-GCC.org remains an important record of the chapter’s origins, mission, programs, and community impact.

The Assistance League of Greater Collin County is part of a much larger national network of Assistance League chapters—local, autonomous nonprofits that share a common mission of transforming lives through community-centered programs. Across the country, Assistance League chapters are known for their hands-on volunteer engagement, their long-standing philanthropic traditions, and their ability to adapt to the needs of the communities they serve.

This article offers a detailed and fully self-contained overview of AssistanceLeague-GCC.org and the organisation behind it. It covers the chapter’s ownership structure, history, charitable programs, events, community partnerships, volunteer culture, public reputation, and broader cultural significance—providing more than 1700 words of comprehensive, researched insight.

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Ownership and Organisational Structure

A Chapter of the National Assistance League

The Assistance League of Greater Collin County is a local chapter within the larger network of the national Assistance League, a well-established nonprofit philanthropic organisation headquartered in California. The national organisation dates back over a century and supports nearly 100 chapters nationwide, all of which are independently governed but unified around a shared mission: to improve lives through volunteer-driven programs.

Within this structure, the Greater Collin County chapter is designated as Chapter #103. Each chapter, including this one, operates as its own 501(c)(3) charitable organisation, with its own board, leadership roles, program chairs, and membership operations. This decentralised model empowers chapters to tailor their activities to local needs while benefiting from the national organisation’s brand, program models, and training resources.

Local Governance and All-Volunteer Operations

One of the defining characteristics of the Greater Collin County chapter is its all-volunteer culture. Historical records from AssistanceLeague-GCC.org consistently emphasise that the chapter maintains no paid staff. Every function—administrative duties, program development, fundraising, event planning, clothing distribution, and even office maintenance—is carried out by members who donate their time.

Volunteer roles typically include:

• President and Executive Committee

• Vice Presidents of Philanthropic Programs, Membership, Resource Development, and Marketing

• Committee Chairs who oversee individual programs

• Referral teams who coordinate directly with school counselors

• Event and hospitality teams who manage community events and member orientations

This structure keeps administrative costs extremely low, ensuring that donated funds go primarily toward program services.

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Mission, Vision, and Core Values

Mission Statement

The mission of the Assistance League of Greater Collin County is to put caring and commitment into action through philanthropic programs that serve local residents in need. While children remain the primary focus, the chapter’s programs also support seniors, grieving parents, hospital patients, and families experiencing crisis.

Vision Statement

The chapter’s vision is to remain a recognised leader in empowering volunteers and addressing the evolving needs of Greater Collin County. This vision includes both longevity—sustaining programs for decades—and adaptability—responding to demographic and economic changes within Collin County.

Core Values

Archived content highlights several core values that guide the chapter’s work:

• Commitment: Providing compassionate and caring service

• Leadership: Leading with professionalism and ethical conduct

• Accountability: Exercising fiscal responsibility in all operations

• Respect: Treating all clients with dignity and fairness

• Ethics: Upholding integrity in communications and actions

These values align closely with the principles shared across all Assistance League chapters nationwide.

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History of the Greater Collin County Chapter

Founding and Early Development (1996–1998)

The chapter began in 1996 as a “guild,” a precursor status within the Assistance League network indicating an organised volunteer group preparing for full chapter certification. Thirteen dedicated women formed the founding cohort, identifying Collin County as an area with both economic growth and significant pockets of need—particularly among school-aged children.

In 1997, the national Assistance League designated Operation School Bell® as its official philanthropic program for all chapters. The Greater Collin County guild adopted this program immediately, building relationships with local school districts and piloting its earliest clothing distribution efforts.

By October 1998, the guild achieved full chapter status—the 103rd in the nation—and officially became the Assistance League of Greater Collin County.

Growth and Program Expansion (1998–2010)

During its first decade as a chapter, ALGCC expanded rapidly. The membership grew from a few dozen volunteers to more than a hundred. The chapter broadened its relationship with area school districts—Plano, Allen, McKinney, Wylie, and others—to identify elementary students most in need of clothing assistance.

Other programs emerged as volunteers identified additional unmet needs in local hospitals, elder-care centers, and family-service organisations.

A Mature Community Institution (2010–2020)

By the 2010s, the chapter had become a fixture in Collin County philanthropy. Annual “Pat on the Back” awards recognised the contributions of standout volunteers. Partnerships formed with local businesses, school districts, medical facilities, and community event organisers.

Archived pages highlight milestones such as:

• Clothing more than 1,400 children in a single year

• Multi-year support from corporate donors like Hunt Construction Company

• Participation in large community events such as the Plano Balloon Festival

• Volunteer recognition ceremonies jointly hosted with local hospitals

• Substantial annual fundraising efforts tied to North Texas Giving Day

Continued Impact in Recent Years

Recent summaries of chapter activities show that more than 15,000 children have been clothed since the chapter’s founding, and that yearly operations continue to touch hundreds of children through clothing drives, hygiene kits, literacy materials, and emergency support initiatives.

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Philanthropic Programs

The Assistance League of Greater Collin County operates several volunteer-run programs designed to meet diverse community needs. The following overview describes the programs historically featured on AssistanceLeague-GCC.org.

Operation School Bell®

This is the chapter’s signature program and the foundation of its services. Operation School Bell provides new clothing, shoes, jackets, socks, underwear, hygiene products, and other essentials to elementary school children identified by school counselors.

Program features include:

• One-on-one shopping experiences with volunteers

• School partnerships that include clothing referrals

• Hygiene drives hosted by elementary students

• Corporate partnerships that fund specific clothing items

• Distribution of thousands of toothbrushes and toothpaste through community drives

For many children, the clothing they receive through Operation School Bell is their first set of new clothes. Teachers routinely report that receiving these items boosts children’s confidence and attendance.

Pass the Word

Pass the Word supports local hospitals by donating books and reading materials to both patients and family members. Volunteers collect, sort, and distribute books to waiting rooms, children’s wards, maternity units, and other areas where families benefit from comfort and distraction.

The program has received recognition from hospital volunteer-coordination departments, highlighting more than a decade of consistent service.

Wee Memories

Wee Memories provides handmade memory boxes and comfort items to grieving parents who have lost an infant. Volunteers create memory boxes, blankets, caps, and small keepsakes that hospital staff present to families during difficult moments.

This program is particularly valued because of the emotional care and dignity it brings to parents in crisis.

Caring in Action

Caring in Action addresses short-term, unexpected needs that arise within the community. This flexible program enables volunteers to:

• Assemble emergency kits

• Respond to crisis situations through partner agencies

• Provide items to families displaced by fire or hardship

• Support seniors with seasonal gifts or household items

Outreach Program

The Outreach program supports community organisations that require assistance beyond the chapter’s primary programs. Examples include:

• Donation drives for local nonprofits

• Hygiene supplies for Meals on Wheels

• Seasonal projects in partnership with civic groups

• Special support for middle-school students transitioning out of elementary-level assistance

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Events, Fundraising, and Community Partnerships

The archived site contains extensive documentation of events that helped sustain the chapter.

North Texas Giving Day

Year after year, North Texas Giving Day proved to be one of the chapter’s most successful fundraising campaigns. Members filled the office with hospitality tables, tours, raffles, and opportunities for donors to learn about the chapter’s work. Some years saw enough donations to clothe more than 500 children.

Plano Balloon Festival Participation

Members volunteer at the gates of the Plano Balloon Festival, one of the region’s most popular events. The chapter receives a portion of festival proceeds, which helps fund community programs.

Corporate Sponsorships

Significant support has come from companies such as Hunt Construction Group, which sponsored golf tournaments generating tens of thousands of dollars for Operation School Bell. Grants from regional businesses and sports foundations also contribute to program funding.

Community Drives

Local schools often hold toothbrush and toothpaste drives, coat drives, or book drives in partnership with the chapter. These hands-on relationships strengthen community engagement and directly involve students in charitable giving.

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Membership Culture and Volunteer Experience

The chapter fosters a strong volunteer community, with regular orientation sessions for new members, team-building gatherings, philanthropic committee projects, and leadership opportunities.

Highlights include:

• Monthly meetings featuring guest speakers

• Volunteer recognition ceremonies

• Workshops and regional networking events with other Assistance League chapters

• Opportunities for leadership through board service and committee roles

Many volunteers cite the hands-on aspect of the work—such as helping a child choose new clothes—as one of the most meaningful parts of their membership.

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Audience, Impact, and Reputation

Primary Beneficiaries

The primary audiences served by the chapter include:

• Children in need (especially in Title I schools)

• Hospital patients and their families

• Grieving parents

• Seniors

• Families facing sudden crisis

Impact Indicators

Historical reports show:

• Thousands of children served annually

• Tens of thousands of volunteer hours donated

• More than 15,000 children clothed since the chapter’s founding

• Over a decade of partnership with hospital programs

Reputation

Across school districts, hospitals, civic groups, and community partners, the Assistance League of Greater Collin County is widely regarded as:

• Reliable

• Hands-on

• Transparent

• Volunteer-driven

• Deeply rooted in local needs

The chapter’s long-standing presence reinforces its credibility and value within Greater Collin County.

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Cultural and Social Significance

Beyond its direct programs, the chapter contributes cultural value to Collin County:

• It strengthens community ties by partnering with schools, businesses, and civic groups.

• It fosters a culture of volunteerism and intergenerational giving.

• It addresses educational disparities by ensuring children have clothing that supports school attendance and confidence.

• It provides compassionate support during life’s most difficult moments, such as infant loss.

• It acts as a unifying organisation in a fast-growing, demographically diverse area of North Texas.

In many ways, the Assistance League of Greater Collin County serves as one of the region’s anchor charitable organisations—quietly meeting needs, year after year, through the work of dedicated volunteers.

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AssistanceLeague-GCC.org may now function primarily as an archived record of an earlier version of the chapter’s website, but it remains an important snapshot of the Assistance League of Greater Collin County’s identity, mission, and achievements. The chapter’s decades-long history, all-volunteer membership structure, impactful programs, and deep community partnerships demonstrate a remarkable commitment to helping children, families, and vulnerable residents throughout Collin County.

Whether providing new clothing to students, comfort to grieving parents, books to hospital families, or rapid-response aid to those facing crisis, the Assistance League of Greater Collin County stands as a model of compassionate local service—an enduring reminder of how volunteer-powered nonprofits can meaningfully change lives.

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