Like mother, like daughter. At least, that is the hope of the National Charity League (NCL), a national nonprofit that strives to nurture strong female leaders and foster mother-daughter relationships. The organization believes in the power of mentorship, multi-generational relationships, and serving the community.
Typically, the organization is composed of mothers and their middle or high school age daughters. Girls can apply for membership in the spring of their 6th grade year and stay in NCL through their senior year of high school. Elevation, Castle Rock’s own chapter, was founded in 2018 and awarded their chartered status on April 7, 2020.
Lesley Gibson, the President of the Elevation chapter, became a member when her oldest daughter, a current sophomore in college, was in the eighth grade. She now participates in NCL with her 17-year-old daughter Josie. Over the years, Josie has come to find that the time spent with her daughters at NCL is sacred.
“Teenagers are difficult. They typically don’t want to be around family or parents,” Lesley says. “With NCL, it’s just her and I.”
For Lesley, NCL opened her eyes to the sheer amount of nonprofits and community organizations in Douglas County. Prior to joining the Elevation chapter, Lesley thought that the majority of places to serve were closer to Denver. That was not the case.
“Once we started digging, we were amazed at everything that was right in our backyard.”
One of their favorites is Rylie’s ARK (Acts of Random Kindness). The nonprofit was formed to honor a local 12-year-old girl who died in a freak accident in 2017. Many of the girls in NCL’s class of 2022 and 2023 knew Riley and have a personal passion for the organization.
NCL has shown Josie the impact her own presence can make in the world. When serving at the Food Bank of the Rockies, she met and conversed with a man recovering from alcoholism. He shared his story with Josie and let her know the profound effect the kindness of volunteers had on his sobriety.
“I saw the difference it made in his life and it changed me,” Josie said. “You can start with NCL in the 7th grade. I think it’s a really good experience for girls to see the impact they can have from a young age.”
Each grade level of girls consists of a president, secretary, treasurer, vice president of philanthropy, and a vice president of programs. The girls, essentially a mini board of directors, choose their activities by approving motions and documenting the minutes. In addition to service, the girls plan social events and cultural experiences, such as going to museums and theaters.
How do you respond to poverty you’ve never witnessed before? What do you do when you notice someone from school getting supplies from a food bank? NCL has shown girls and their mothers realities that, according to Lesley, “open up a lot of teachable moments.”
Elevate: to raise or lift something to a higher position. This simple definition embodies much of what the National Charity League’s Elevation chapter aims to do. As long as they exist, this chapter of women commit to uplifting each other and their community.