Assistance League has been named a 2013 National Make A Difference Day Award Honoree in recognition of its member volunteers collecting 113,101 books in a nationwide 94-chapter drive. The Assistance League project was selected from thousands of efforts that took place on Make A Difference Day 2012, the nation’s largest single day of volunteering sponsored by USA WEEKEND Magazine in partnership with Points of Light and supported by Newman’s Own.

Locally, Assistance League of Tulsa participated in the National Children’s Book Drive by collecting 1,299 books for donation to Tulsa Public Schools with mentoring programs, Lakeside Residential Center and the Tulsa Advocacy for the Protection of Children.  Together, with 93 other chapters of Assistance League, these local efforts led to selecting Assistance League as one of ten national honorees.

More than 21,500 Assistance League member and community volunteers were inspired to participate in this event, with the project focused on children’s literacy since reading is a critical element in every youngster’s development. “Locally, several hundred volunteers contributed time and books to make this event a success. By providing books to those in need, Assistance League continues to make a difference in our community,” said Martha Nichols, chair of book driveforAssistance League of Tulsa.  Pictured below are the women from Assistance League of Tulsa who collected and delivered all of the books they received.

Assistance League was recognized at a luncheon in Washington, D.C., in late April at which time it received a $10,000 donation from Newman’s Own and was spotlighted in the April 19-21 issue of USA WEEKEND Magazine. In presenting the award, CBS News Congressional Correspondent Nancy Cordes pointed out, “In just one day, Assistance League put the gift of a new, magical world into some of America’s smallest hands.”

More information about Assistance League’s Make a Difference Day success may be found at www.AssistanceLeague.org, with specifics on Assistance League of Tulsa located at www.altulsa.org.

Related posts