A Quick Guide to NCL, Irvine Chapter

 

Overview:

National Charity League, Inc. (NCL) is a non-profit national organization of mothers and daughters who join together in community involvement within local chapters throughout the United States.  There are 38,000 members in 154 chapters.  The goal of NCL is to foster a sense of community responsibility in the girls as well as to strengthen the mother-daughter relationship.  The daughters participate in a six-year program of philanthropic work, educational activities and cultural events.  In the City of Irvine there are three NCL chapters:  Irvine, Rancho Irvine, and Vista Irvine.  The information in this guide relates to the Irvine Chapter only.

 

Chapter Organization:                                               

The NCL experience is designed as a six-year program.  The chapter is organized into a “Class” for each grade level of 7th through 12th grade.  Most mother and daughters join NCL when the girls are about to enter 7th grade.  For example, Girls who will be in 7th grade in the fall of 2010 will be the class of 2016.  Typically, there are about 20-25 girls in each class. 

 

Meal on Wheels and Other Philanthropies:

The primary philanthropy of the NCL Irvine Chapter is Meals on Wheels (MOW) in Irvine.  The Chapter also supports 24 other philanthropies:

  • American Heart Association
  • American Red Cross
  • Assessment & Treatment Services Center
  • Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC)
  • Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)
  • Down Syndrome Foundation of Orange County (DSFOC)
  • Families Forward
  • High Hopes Head Injury Program
  • Hoag Memorial Hospital
  • Human Options
  • Intervention Center for Early Childhood (ICEC)
  • Irvine Animal Care Center
  • Irvine children’s Fund (Irvine Junior Games)
  • Irvine Community Parks, Irvine Senior Center
  • KidWorks
  • Operation Valentine (for US Troops)
  • Orange Coast Interfaith Shelter
  • Philharmonic Society
  • Rebuilding Together
  • Shadetree Partnership
  • Susan G. Komen foundation
  • University Park Library.

 

What NCL Membership Involves:

The membership year runs May 1 to April 30.  Members are required each year to:

1.       Perform a minimum number of community service hours:  Moms need 25 hours including 7 Meals on Wheels deliveries and Daughters need 15 hours including 1 Meals on Wheels delivery.

2.       Attend monthly Chapter meetings (Mom’s only) and Class meeting (daughters only) and participate in chapter events (Philanthropy Fair, Fashion show, Holiday Tea) for a minimum of 8 hours per year.

3.       Take on a Class Job, Chapter Job or Committee Position for a minimum of 7 hours.

4.       Meet the financial obligation:  Total cost per year is approximately $375.  Senior year can cost $1,000-$2,000.

 

Benefits of NCL Membership

While membership requires a substantial commitment of time and effort, mothers and daughters say that NCL gives them…

·         An organized way to serve others.  Everyone wants to give back but few of us manage to organize this on our own.  NCL provides a direct way to serve others in need in our own community. 

·         Leadership skills and poise.  Through experiences like serving as class officers, working on committees and speaking in public, the girls develop skills they will use throughout their lives

·         A deeper bond and wonderful friendships and memories.  NCL brings mothers and daughters together enabling them to work together, have fun and share in a joint mission of service to the community.  NCL gives both mothers and daughters the chance to form deep friendships with other women and girls.  Lasting, cherished memories are made by working and laughing together.

·         Impressive credentials for college application.  Many girls who complete the six-year NCL program accumulate hundreds of hours of community service, which is well-regarded by many colleges.

 

How do I join the Irvine Chapter of NCL?

National Charity League, Inc. is a sponsorship organization, which means you need to be sponsored by a current member of the Irvine Chapter. Participation in NCL requires a substantial commitment, so your sponsor will ensure you understand the service, attendance and financial obligations of membership in the Irvine Chapter. The membership drive timeline starts in January prior to the year you join. So, if you wish to start at the beginning of the NCL program, you need to secure a sponsor by January of your daughter’s 6th grade year.

NCL is designed as a small group leadership development program, so grade level classes are kept intentionally small. We are accepting incoming 7th graders, and a limited number of incoming 8th, 9th and 10th graders. Class sizes tend to be around 20-25 girls per class

 

How do I find a Sponsor?

If you know someone in the NCL Irvine chapter, talk to her about membership obligations and membership drive timeline. If you do not know someone in NCL, we will contact you to discuss your options to secure a sponsor.  Please complete the Interest in Membership Form so we can include you in any information meetings.