In 1925, a group of women in Los Angeles, spearheaded by Gladys Lawrence, came together to create food baskets for the American Red Cross, forming what they called ‘The Charity League.’
Throughout the Great Depression and World War II, this volunteer group, a combination of mothers and daughters, continuously sought ways to serve and support their local communities.
By 1947, the group had restructured into a singular organization known as the National Charity League (NCL), which has since become recognized as the original mother-daughter charity organization in the United States. Today, NCL boasts over 300 chapters nationwide, comprising mothers and their daughters in grades 7-12.
The San Diego del Norte Chapter of NCL, founded in 1991, stands as the second oldest chapter in the San Diego area; the first chapter launched in 1971 in La Jolla.
Notably, the San Diego del Norte Chapter ranks as the 37th chapter in the nation and still celebrates its legacy with two mothers from the original San Diego Chapter and one member from the founding class of the San Diego del Norte Chapter.
This year marks a significant milestone as NCL commemorates 100 years of dedicated service. To celebrate, the San Diego del Norte Chapter launched their centennial festivities at their annual Mother-Daughter meeting in January, adorned with gold and glitter decorations, cake, flowers, and a photo booth.
In April, President Dr. Preeti Sonni-Mehta and incoming President Danielle Whitaker White attended the NCL National Conference to honor the 100-year legacy.
Reflecting on this monumental year, Sonni-Mehta expressed her excitement in the news release, stating, ‘I’m thrilled to have been president during such a monumental year for NCL, and this event just exemplified the spirit of our organization as a group of dedicated mothers and daughters who collectively want to help assist and improve our communities through philanthropy and volunteering.’
Sonni-Mehta hopes her daughters, Maya and Nila, will become involved with NCL in the future to help carry on the organization’s legacy.
Danielle Whitaker White, the daughter of a founding member of the San Diego del Norte Chapter, shared her thoughts on the conference, saying, ‘The convention was amazing to see the size and magnitude of NCL’s current reach! I’m proud to have a legacy, and I hope my daughter carries on the family tradition.’
Also notable is that White’s mother, Dona Whitaker, served as the original parliamentarian for the San Diego del Norte Chapter. She encouraged her daughter to join to expose her to philanthropy and leadership opportunities outside her comfort zone.
White fondly recalled volunteering at the Darlington House Residence during her senior year, where she provided meals and companionship for older adults. ‘I was so fond of the people,’ she mentioned, ‘that after I graduated from high school, they offered me a summer job working in the dining room.’
In hopes of imparting the same values to her daughter, Alexandria, White wishes for her to build an appreciation for philanthropy and leadership, along with cherished memories from their journey together.
The roots of the San Diego del Norte Chapter trace back to the original San Diego Chapter, where legacies like Julie Mulvihill Mayer and Ashley Sammis-Tapp began their journeys alongside their mothers.
Mayer, whose mother, Mary Mulvihill, was a founding member of the San Diego Chapter, sought to start a new chapter to share valuable philanthropic experiences with her children.
She expressed her feelings in the news release, stating, ‘I’m thrilled to think the one small group of girls we had from all over town has grown into multiple chapters in San Diego.’
Mayer reminisced about her time as a Ticktocker, recalling activities such as collaborating with a fashion consultant for a fashion show and creating quilt wreaths for the NCL Holiday Boutique. She also achieved the 100-hour volunteer service award for her contributions to Casa de Amparo.
Now serving as a Patroness, Mayer aspires to forge similar bonding experiences with her daughter Faith, demonstrating to her that being of service can be immensely fulfilling and enjoyable.
Sammis-Tapp shared her own experiences, noting that she followed in the footsteps of her older sister who had already joined the San Diego Chapter.
‘Getting my daughters involved in giving back made sense,’ she said, given her mother’s active role in the community.
She cherishes memories of volunteering at the local library, assisting with the summer reading program, and engaging with children.
Just as her mother wished for her, Sammis-Tapp hopes her daughter Ava will grasp the importance of community service and helping others. One of their favorite activities together is distributing food at Bridge of Hope in City Heights. ‘It’s one of the highlights of our summer,’ she emphasized.
Reflecting on NCL’s growth, Sammis-Tapp remarked, ‘I think it’s wonderful that NCL continues to grow and thrive, providing a wider outreach to the organizations we serve throughout San Diego County.’
White also echoed similar sentiments, stating, ‘I think NCL speaks to the core of our humanity, the need to help others and better our communities. Taking care of each other is a timeless concept.’
As the year comes to a close, the San Diego del Norte Chapter hosted their end-of-year Mother/Daughter tea and luncheon at Lomas Santa Fe Country Club, looking forward to an exciting year ahead.
For more information on how to get involved, visit www.nationalcharityleague.org.
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