NCL’s Glendale chapter was selected as the Community Award recipient for being the best in exemplifying the guiding principles of The Character and Ethics Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to “promoting and building good character and ethical behavior at home and in our community.” NCL Glendale was nominated by Lisa Raggio, senior director, YWCA of Glendale as a result of the projects accomplished and volunteer hours served at the YWCA by the Ticktockers and guided by their mothers.

For many years, the YWCA of Glendale has been one of the chapter philanthropies of NCL Glendale and has enjoyed a strong relationship with the mothers and daughters who work to support many of its programs, especially the domestic violence shelters. Each year, each grade level focuses on one of the chapter philanthropies. For ninth grade, that philanthropy is YWCA of Glendale. The class of 2016 secured sponsors to support them in a “dance-off” that was held last fall.

“It might sound like fun, but 31 girls dancing for two hours straight on a Sunday afternoon with their mothers watching was a challenge,” said Nancy Mercolino, Ninth Grade Level advisor. The project resulted in $4,500 being raised for the Adopt a Family program and made it possible for holiday gift baskets to be provided for all of the women and children in the YWCA domestic violence shelters.

In addition to the dance-off, Ticktockers from the seventh through 12th grade classes volunteered over 800 hours mentoring children in the YWCA of Glendale summer camps.