Momentum - Business to Business Online Magazine MOMENTUM April 2019 | Page 38

NON PROFIT OF THE MONTH
SHARON GUZZINO KLUMB
Marketing Chairman
Assistance League of the Bay Area
Partnerships Key to Chapter’s
Success with Assistance
League ® Action! Week
I
n the fall of 2018,
who are simultaneously
Assistance League issued
students, at the Galveston
a call to action to all
Shriners Hospital in their Burn
chapters to participate
Unit.
in a nationwide effort
Over 150 books in print as
to raise awareness of the
well as Spanish audio books
importance of promoting
were donated on Thursday,
childhood literacy and putting
February 28, coinciding with
books in the hands of children
the designated time frames
who might not have access to
for Assistance League Action!
them.
Week.
Assistance League Action!
Students from all over the
Week was officially celebrated
world, but in particular Mexico,
February 25 – March 3, 2019.
Central and South America,
Assistance League® of the
are brought to this location
Bay Area began their initiative Pictured left to right: Veronica Villarreal, Classroom Teaching Assistant, Sharon to recover from their injuries.
Barnes & Noble Webster Community Outreach Coordinator, Myra
in early November. Just prior Siman,
Many of these students have
Sanders, Classroom Teacher, Angela Bernard, Donor Development Assistant,
Sarah Foulds, chapter President, and Lisa Holbrook, chapter President-Elect.
to Thanksgiving and through
never been exposed to any
the Christmas holiday season,
type of formal classroom
Barnes & Noble Webster invited shoppers to purchase
experience. Some cannot read or write.
an additional book and donate it to our organization.
With Myra Sanders, classroom teacher, and Veronica
The response was staggering, as over 1150 books were
Villarreal, teacher assistant and translator, they are given
bought and sent to us for all levels of readers. Sharon
the opportunity to learn.
Siman, Community Partner Development Manager, said,
Of particular importance are the audio books as often,
“It was a huge undertaking but well worth the effort to
patients spend their initial time in intensive care. These
partner with Assistance League of the Bay Area to bring
books can provide entertainment and perhaps a few
books into the lives of these students.”
moments of pain relief.
Beginning in December and continuing through
“As our patients recover here in the hospital, it is
February, students who were referred to three area Kohl’s
very important they feel a strong connection to their
locations at Baybrook in Friendswood, League City, and
education,” stated Myra Sanders, the teacher who instructs
Fairmont Parkway in Pasadena, as well as the Galveston
students in the classroom at Shriners. “Books give
Island Target, were given the opportunity to select two
them that special tool to enjoy a time of happiness and
books when shopping for school apparel.
connection. This wonderful donation will provide many
One thousand books were placed in the hands of these
hours of happiness now and in the future. Thank you for
students in six school districts.
your generosity and compassion for our special children
At the end of the 2018 calendar year, the Albemarle
at Shriners.”
Foundation awarded the organization a sum of money
Through ongoing partnerships with community
to the chapter. A portion of those funds, voted on
supporters, Assistance League of the Bay Area successfully
overwhelmingly by the membership, were allocated
completed the mission of Action! Week, raising awareness
towards the purchase of Spanish audio books for patients,
of the importance of literacy.
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MOMENTUM