Courtesy photo An outing with the Fisher Cats mascot is enjoyed at one of many charitable enterprises annually supported by National Charity League, whose members including these ladies, from left, Li Zhou; Jennifer DeAngelis; Alisha Juneja and May Zheng, seen here with Rashmi Juneja and Gabby DeAngelis at a fundraising walk, “JDRF One Walk,” an event sponsored by JDRF, formerly Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Mothers and daughters in middle school through high school are enhancing their tradition of sharing of quality time by volunteering with the Southern New Hampshire Chapter of the National Charity League, Inc.

The approximately 200 mother-daughter duos with girls ranging from grades 7-12 are from Amherst, Bedford and Hollis, along with Merrimack, Nashua and Manchester. They are joined by others from Hooksett, Londonderry, Concord and New Boston. The ladies lend support to nearly a dozen philanthropic charities including the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Families in Transition, Special Olympics and others.

Laura Rogers is a resident of Bedford and president of the Bedford-based local chapter. She leads the members through dozens of annual events.

“I’m very proud to be leading this group of incredible women,” said Rogers.“We have an inspiring mission to give back to our community and at the same time develop socially aware leaders of the future – our daughters.”

The local chapter’s roots were established in 2012 when 10 women gathered in the kitchen of Bedford resident Alyse Kanter. They discussed ways to simultaneously help people and to strengthen their mother-daughter bond. They considered the work of the NCL, founded in 1925, as an avenue to the goals.

They learned the NCL harkens back to the year when Al Jolson was playing Broadway and New York Yankee Lou Gehrig was beginning a streak of playing in 2,130 consecutive games. Members of the NCL back then were assisting the Red Cross in assembling food baskets and packets of baby clothes for needy families.

Vice President for Media and Communications Lynne Natale, of Bedford, recently reported that the group’s Mother-Daughter Tea and Auction, presented on Jan. 12 at the Puritan Backroom in Manchester, raised nearly $2,400 to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

“Our annual tea and auction is our chapter’s main fundraiser,” said Natale, “It’s a wonderful event where our members unite together to support philanthropy.”

Natale said the group shares the satisfaction of a deepened sense of social responsibility through its volunteer work. Cultural exchanges are experienced. Leaders are developed. They credit their NCL forerunners for the paradigm. Now, mother-daughter teams are active in more than 235 chapters in 26 states.

Additional members are welcome. The local group’s current leadership mostly is comprised of Bedford women: Laura Rogers, president; Tracy Healey, vice president membership; Shauna Beaudin, vice president Ticktockers (daughters); along with Jennifer Cilley, vice president philanthropy; Linda Gilligan; and Sue Jennato, co-vice presidents Patroness (mothers); Lynne Natale, vice president media and communications; Mary Beth Robinson, vice president provisionals; Carolyn Guerette, secretary; Jen DeAngelis, treasurer; and Michelle Toolin, parliamentarian. Karen Tremblay, of Merrimack, is vice president for ways and means.

Tracy Healey, vice president for membership, said inquiries about membership are welcome from women throughout the area whose daughters are students currently in grades 6-9.

“Word of mouth has always been our best advertising,” Healey said. “We want to continue to grow our chapter and provide opportunities for mothers and daughters to serve in the community together.”

Information on the National Charity League, Inc., Southern New Hampshire Chapter can be had online: southernnewhampshire.nationalcharityleague.org.