NCL honors members and graduating seniors

FALLBROOK – The San Luis Rey Chapter of The National Charity League (NCL) held their annual awards and senior recognition event on May 24 at the Grand Tradition. The NCL is a philanthropic organization for mothers and daughters committed to community service, leadership development and cultural experiences.

The annual awards dinner is an opportunity to recognize those mothers and daughters who have made significant contributions to their community through their participation in the various service opportunities over the course of the last year.

During the 2017-2018 year, mothers and daughters contributed a total of 8,653 service hours to their community through NCL. There are a variety of ways these hours are spent including volunteering on-site at Local Events like the Don Dornan Games snack bar, Arts in the Park, REINS Hoedown and Stagecoach Sundays.

They also volunteered by working with local merchants and businesses like helping during summer camp at the Fallbrook Community Center; volunteering at the Angel Shop; and providing food and necessities to organizations like Fallbrook Senior Center, Stand Up for Kids, Fallbrook Food Pantry, Fallbrook Animal Shelter and The Boys and Girls Club.

Special awards are given annually to recognize those members who make contributions beyond their annual requirement. There are four awards for Ticktockers (daughters) and three awards for Patronesses (mothers). The Mary Bell Ticktocker Award recognizes the Ticktocker earning the most on-site philanthropic hours for one year, and this year it was presented to Cassidy Tucker for 30.25 on-site hours.

The Merci Award, given to the Ticktocker earning the most philanthropic hours for one year, was presented to Katie and Rebekah Kehl for 435.5 hours. The Senior Service Award, presented to the senior Ticktocker who has earned the most philanthropic hours during her six years in NCL, was presented to Natalie Brown for her cumulative 1,364 .25 hours of service.

The Senior Spirit Award is awarded to the one senior Ticktocker who best exemplifies the spirit of NCL, including friendliness, charity, helpfulness, empathy, and the ability to work well with others. This year's recipient was Grace Meacham.

The Ann Daniel Award, given to a first year Patroness who earns the most philanthropic hours over a year, was presented to Jacqueline Pierson for 77 hours. The Donna Bianchi Patroness Award, given to the Patroness earning the most on-site philanthropic hours for the year, was presented to Young Milton for 31.5 hours. The Donna Domanski Award, presented to the Patroness earning the most philanthropic hours for the year, went to Kristi Kehl for 508 hours.

In addition to the awards that are presented, the evening recognizes and celebrates the contributions of all the graduating seniors. They have all been part of NCL for at least four years, many for six years, and have given at least 20 hours of their time each year to various charities throughout the community.

Each senior has contributed to her community, has learned leadership skills, and contributed to the development of her fellow seniors and the younger girls coming behind her. These young women will be missed but each is going on to a new chapter in their life and will take the lessons learned and the commitment to philanthropic work that NCL has instilled with them wherever they may be headed.