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This is Fred Ball for Zions Bank, speaking on business.
Everyone at some point in their life needs a helping hand. As a community we have those helping hands thanks to the Assistance League of Salt Lake City.
It's been nearly 30 years since the Assistance League of Salt Lake was founded. And in that time, the nonprofit all-volunteer organization has helped thousands of children and adults through a variety of ongoing philanthropic projects.
Through its ASK program, the Assistance League provides Assault Survivor Kits to sexual assault response teams and monthly items to children of sexual abuse. Act III is a program in which volunteers sing and dance their way in to the hearts of residents in retirement centers and nursing homes.
The Assistance League's Book Bank provides books and reading to pre-school and Head Start children. Books are also given to agencies such as the Ronald McDonald House, Shriner's Hospital and schools on Indian reservations. There is also the Kids on the Block puppet show that travels to schools and educates children about the issues of drugs, gangs and physical disabilities. And through Operation School Bell, needy children receive new clothing for school.
The Baby Bundles program provides layettes to newborns of low-income and teen mothers at the University of Utah Medical Center. With the Brighter Tomorrows program, men and women from abuse situations and those re-entering the workforce receive the clothing they need.
And the Assistance League offers free blood pressure screening monthly, September through May.
The Assistance League generates the majority of its funding from revenue earned at its Thrift Shop, located at 2060 E. 3300 South. It is the only shop of its kind in Salt Lake that is operated entirely by unpaid volunteer members. Other funding is granted on behalf of many charitable donors and organizations.
Last year, through each of these philanthropic projects, the Assistance League helped over 32,000 people in the community. It is service that wouldn't be possible without the selfless work of the Assistance LeagueÕs members and their helping hands.
For Zions Bank, I'm Fred Ball. I'm speaking on business.
