1400 E Touhy Ave, Suite 410, Des Plaines, IL 60018altrusa@altrusa.org 1-312-427-4410
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Altrusa International
Leading to a better community
We believe that everyone is able to make a positive difference to the world around them. We can each volunteer our time, or donate our money, towards worthy causes. Our individual efforts are small, but they matter.
We can achieve even more when we bring people together. For over 100 years Altrusa clubs have collected members from varying occupations and lifestyles, all sharing an interest in community service.
We enjoy the friendship, fun and satisfaction that comes from working together for the benefit of others. Each club develops a program that is tailored to local needs, undertaking a variety of hands-on service and fundraising projects each year. One of our shared goals as an organization is to improve literacy, which we believe is the key to opportunity.
Through Altrusa activities we develop our leadership skills in a supportive environment. We welcome new ideas and aim to provide enough flexibility so that our members can give their time in a way that works for them.
Why choose Altrusa?
I like that we can give of our talents, time or treasure. Some service organizations only focus on one of them.
Deanna Sargent, Altrusa International of Ames, Iowa, USA
The simplicity and the ease with which Altrusans serve made me choose Altrusa.
Parvathy Viswanath, Altrusa International of Madras, India
With Altrusa it is flexible with what you’ve got going on in your life, to help out more sometimes and less at other times when you’re busy.
Fiona Davies, Altrusa International of Queenstown, New Zealand
Altrusa is different from other service organizations in that it is diverse. Men and women from a rainbow of ethnicities who collectively share an interest in making a difference in some way to their community.
Dr Morgan Ellis DDS, Altrusa International of Lake City, Florida, USA
I choose Altrusa because of its focus on literacy. I want to give folks who are struggling a hand-up by providing educational opportunities. I believe literacy and education are essential in stepping out of poverty.
Jan Weir, Altrusa International of Nanaimo, BC, Canada
I chose Altrusa because I wanted to do something useful and help those less fortunate in the community. I always say “I joined for the service and I stayed for the friendships”.
Silvia D’Jaen Silverman, Altrusa International of Montgomery County, Maryland, USA
I come from a modest family with high human values that was always ready to help those in need. I perceived these same values on my first meeting with Altrusa.
Madeleine Ferguson, Altrusa International of Québec, Canada
It was a way to give back on my time and challenge me to be a better person.
Rommel Orellana, Altrusa International of Washington County, Arkansas, USA
Altrusa is the only service organization where direct service manifests itself purely and transparently.
Maria Judith Oquendo, Altrusa International of San Juan, Puerto Rico
Days for Girls Banner
International Service Project
International Service Project
Days for Girls
Altrusa International, Inc. and Days for Girls have come together in partnership to improve the lives of women and girls internationally.
Days for Girls (DfG) is creating a world with dignity, health, and opportunity for all, through sustainable menstrual care solutions and health education. They envision a world where girls can attend school, pursue opportunities and succeed even when they have their periods.
Together Altrusa and DfG can provide girls and women in the world with essential health education, sustainable and affordable feminine products, break the silence of shame, and change the narrative to one of celebration and pride. Individual Altrusa clubs can support DfG through online fundraising, collecting supplies for kits, connecting with local DfG chapters, or sewing for kits.
The DfG movement has reached more than one million girls and women and counting. Altrusa International will help to reach “Every Girl, Everywhere, Period.”
Since 1946, Altrusa International has held observer status at the United Nations (UN). At that time, Altrusa was the first international classified service club for then executive and professional women to have an official observer appointed to the United Nations, Frances K. Marquis, president of the New York City (NYC)Altrusa Club. Frances was a close friend to another active NYC Altrusan, Eleanor Roosevelt. Eleanor Rooselt delivered an address at the 1945 San Francisco UN Conference on International Organization and later then President Harry S. Truman appointed Mrs. Roosevelt to Chair the famous UN Human Rights Committee.
In 1978, our UN membership was assigned to the level of a NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) in roster status within the ECOSOC (the Economic and Social Council). In this capacity, we join together with other NGOs, empowered to attend open General Assembly sessions and UN briefings/conferences related solely to global and social concerns, and receive UN Ground Passes.
In each biennium, the International Board appoint 5 representatives to attend and monitor UN meetings and briefings, as allowed. Altrusa’s representatives may participate (either in person or via teleconference/
Facebook) in weekly briefings/”chats” conducted by the UN Department of Global Communication (DGC), Civil Society
(NGOs). In addition, they may serve on DGC Annual Conference committees and other projects, formed to further the improvement of the human condition worldwide.
Kathleen Schrein
Representative for Altrusa International to United Nations Department of Global Communications
Banner
Heading
Altrusa International
Leading to a better community
We believe that everyone is able to make a positive difference to the world around them. We can each volunteer our time, or donate our money, towards worthy causes. Our individual efforts are small, but they matter.
We can achieve even more when we bring people together. For over 100 years Altrusa clubs have collected members from varying occupations and lifestyles, all sharing an interest in community service.
We enjoy the friendship, fun and satisfaction that comes from working together for the benefit of others. Each club develops a program that is tailored to local needs, undertaking a variety of hands-on service and fundraising projects each year. One of our shared goals as an organization is to improve literacy, which we believe is the key to opportunity.
Through Altrusa activities we develop our leadership skills in a supportive environment. We welcome new ideas and aim to provide enough flexibility so that our members can give their time in a way that works for them.
Why choose Altrusa?
I like that we can give of our talents, time or treasure. Some service organizations only focus on one of them.
Deanna Sargent, Altrusa International of Ames, Iowa, USA
The simplicity and the ease with which Altrusans serve made me choose Altrusa.
Parvathy Viswanath, Altrusa International of Madras, India
With Altrusa it is flexible with what you’ve got going on in your life, to help out more sometimes and less at other times when you’re busy.
Fiona Davies, Altrusa International of Queenstown, New Zealand
Altrusa is different from other service organizations in that it is diverse. Men and women from a rainbow of ethnicities who collectively share an interest in making a difference in some way to their community.
Dr Morgan Ellis DDS, Altrusa International of Lake City, Florida, USA
I choose Altrusa because of its focus on literacy. I want to give folks who are struggling a hand-up by providing educational opportunities. I believe literacy and education are essential in stepping out of poverty.
Jan Weir, Altrusa International of Nanaimo, BC, Canada
I chose Altrusa because I wanted to do something useful and help those less fortunate in the community. I always say “I joined for the service and I stayed for the friendships”.
Silvia D’Jaen Silverman, Altrusa International of Montgomery County, Maryland, USA
I come from a modest family with high human values that was always ready to help those in need. I perceived these same values on my first meeting with Altrusa.
Madeleine Ferguson, Altrusa International of Québec, Canada
It was a way to give back on my time and challenge me to be a better person.
Rommel Orellana, Altrusa International of Washington County, Arkansas, USA
Altrusa is the only service organization where direct service manifests itself purely and transparently.
Maria Judith Oquendo, Altrusa International of San Juan, Puerto Rico
Days for Girls Banner
International Service Project
International Service Project
Days for Girls
Altrusa International, Inc. and Days for Girls have come together in partnership to improve the lives of women and girls internationally.
Days for Girls (DfG) is creating a world with dignity, health, and opportunity for all, through sustainable menstrual care solutions and health education. They envision a world where girls can attend school, pursue opportunities and succeed even when they have their periods.
Together Altrusa and DfG can provide girls and women in the world with essential health education, sustainable and affordable feminine products, break the silence of shame, and change the narrative to one of celebration and pride. Individual Altrusa clubs can support DfG through online fundraising, collecting supplies for kits, connecting with local DfG chapters, or sewing for kits.
The DfG movement has reached more than one million girls and women and counting. Altrusa International will help to reach “Every Girl, Everywhere, Period.”
Active in Service
Altrusa at the United Nations
Since 1946, Altrusa International has held observer status at the United Nations (UN). At that time, Altrusa was the first international classified service club for then executive and professional women to have an official observer appointed to the United Nations, Frances K. Marquis, president of the New York City (NYC)Altrusa Club. Frances was a close friend to another active NYC Altrusan, Eleanor Roosevelt. Eleanor Rooselt delivered an address at the 1945 San Francisco UN Conference on International Organization and later then President Harry S. Truman appointed Mrs. Roosevelt to Chair the famous UN Human Rights Committee.
In 1978, our UN membership was assigned to the level of a NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) in roster status within the ECOSOC (the Economic and Social Council). In this capacity, we join together with other NGOs, empowered to attend open General Assembly sessions and UN briefings/conferences related solely to global and social concerns, and receive UN Ground Passes.
In each biennium, the International Board appoint 5 representatives to attend and monitor UN meetings and briefings, as allowed. Altrusa’s representatives may participate (either in person or via teleconference/
Facebook) in weekly briefings/”chats” conducted by the UN Department of Global Communication (DGC), Civil Society
(NGOs). In addition, they may serve on DGC Annual Conference committees and other projects, formed to further the improvement of the human condition worldwide.
Kathleen Schrein
Representative for Altrusa International to United Nations Department of Global Communications
2019
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