Manhattan-Hermosa
About Our Chapter
NCL, Inc., Manhattan-Hermosa Chapter is a group of mothers and daughters who have come together in a commitment to community service, leadership development and cultural experiences.
Members shall reside in Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach. Like all NCL, Inc. Chapters, Manhattan-Hermosa aims to foster the mother-daughter relationship by serving its communities together.
Founded in 2009, we are the oldest chapter in the Southbay. Over the years, our chapter has grown to more than 600 past and current members, developing structured processes and programs that ensure every mother-daughter duo has a meaningful and impactful experience. Our well-established systems help us coordinate volunteer opportunities, mentor new members, and maintain strong relationships with our philanthropy partners.
We are deeply grateful for our longstanding partnerships with local philanthropic organizations, which allow our members to make a real difference in our communities. These relationships, combined with our experience and structured approach, make the Manhattan-Hermosa Chapter extremely unique.
Join Our Chapter
Interested in joining our chapter? Membership opportunities are dependent on chapter openings.
Please complete the Membership Inquiry Form so we can contact you directly. If you know a current chapter member, feel free to reach out to them as well to learn about getting started.
For any questions regarding Membership, requests for transfers or assistance with connecting as a Sustainer, email us.
Our Membership Drive for the current year is currently closed. Please check back for more details.
Mothers and their daughters (grades 7-12) participate in a program that embraces:
Community Service
We understand and serve communities in partnership with local and national nonprofits. Each NCL, Inc. chapter promotes social awareness by considering the local community’s needs and selecting appropriate non-profit organizations to support through different volunteer activities.
We work with the following philanthropies:
- 1736 Family Crisis Center
- American Heart Association
- American Red Cross
- Angel City Sports
- Any Soldier
- Children’s Dental Health Clinic
- City of Hermosa Beach
- City of Manhattan Beach
- County of Los Angeles Public Library, Manhattan Beach Branch
- Family Promise
- Food Forward
- Habitat For Humanity of Greater Los Angeles
- Heal the Bay
- ICAN
- Jimmy Miller Memorial Foundation
- Leukemia & Lymphoma Society – Greater LA
- Little League Challenger Baseball
- Momentum
- Mychal’s Learning Place
- One Voice LA
- Operation Gratitude
- PS I Love You Foundation
- Richstone Family Center
- Saint Sebastian Sports Project
- Shared Bread
- Special Olympics Southern California
- St. Joseph Center
- Switzer Learning Center
- The Lovejoy Foundation
- Wreaths Across America
Class Of 2026 Senior Project
Every year our NCL Senior Class organizes a project to give back to one of our philanthropy partners. This year, the Class of 2025 created a mural to represent the Lovejoy Foundation. They presented the foundation with a banner to display at adoption events and a painting to decorate their newly renovated clubhouse. Please enjoy this interactive video to see their project and the impact it has made!
Leadership Development
We build capable, courageous leaders through opportunities to learn, reflect and develop. Our leaders become successful in their education, career and communities by learning the necessary skills during their NCL experience.
Examples of skills developed include:
- Confidence
- Consensus building
- Team building
- Conflict resolution
- Event planning
- Parliamentary procedure
Our Chapter Board of Directors:
- President: Jennifer Buchsbaum
Leah Duke - President Elect: Leah Duke
Wendy Zachary - Secretary: Allison Sootkoos
Erin Mehta - Treasurer: Kelly Brookie
Kristen Neer - Parliamentarian: Suzy Manning
- Vice President Communications: Erin Coppola
Jennie Shamaly - Vice President Membership: Christine Shultz
Jennifer Buchsbaum - Vice President Philanthropy: Laura Jenks
Luan Smith - Vice President New Members: Catherine Lucy
Cristi Lewis - Vice President Ticktockers: Jessica Geiger
Pamela Thomas - Vice President Chapter Engagement and Inclusion: Dana Lupton
Ticktocker Focus
GUIDE—Generosity, Unity, Inclusion, Diversity & Equality—was created by Ticktocker Ellie Meyer and honored with our Rising Tide Leadership Award. Designed to spark meaningful conversations about inclusion and kindness, GUIDE has grown into an ongoing program led by Ticktocker representatives across all classes. Ellie’s vision continues to shape our chapter, inspiring a more thoughtful, welcoming, and connected NCL community.
Sustainer Program Focus
The NCL Forever Sustainer program lets Patronesses continue their NCL journey after their Ticktocker(s) graduate. Members enjoy networking locally and nationally while mentoring and leading the next generation of NCL families. Manhattan-Hermosa is proud to have 100+ active Sustainers Patronesses staying connected through social, leadership, and philanthropic activities.
Cultural Experiences
We preserve National Charity League traditions and core values, while appreciating the growth that comes from connecting with different communities and cultures. We continually strive to build stronger ties with our communities and the individuals within them. It is through this understanding that we grow and develop broader worldviews that will shape and support our lives.
- Traditions – We celebrate the richness of our history through traditions that honor the past while serving the future.
- Values – We embrace values that make us strong as an organization of mother-daughter leaders.
- Community Connections – We build connections through experiences that impact our communities.
- Etiquette – We encourage and mentor kind, respectful and gracious social conduct.