One of the most important – and most special – times together in their mother- daughter lives is how one mom described National Charity League.

It has been a tradition for more than 50 years in parts of the country, 26 years locally.

For six years as girls are in grades 7-12, mothers and daughters team in a structured program that includes philanthropy, leadership training, educational activities, cultural events – and bonding. Nationwide, in 23 states, there are 55,000 active members who volunteer thousands of hours to their local nonprofits, helping to raise millions of dollars.

Mothers are called Patronesses and their daughters are Ticktockers, who have their own national social media network.

There are two local National Charity League (national charityleague.org) chapters.

Established in 1990, the Colorado Springs Chapter was chartered in 1997 and has more than 200 mothers and daughters who during the past year gave over 5,000 volunteer hours.

The Pikes Peak Chapter, chartered in 1999, gave 4,739 volunteer hours last year and over 16 years has given 61,181 volunteer hours.

The two chapters participated together in making baby blankets for the military- focus organization Operation Homefront on Jan. 10 at Cheyenne Mountain Junior High School. They had provided a variety of support to Operation Homefront, including the back-to-school backpack brigade when 1,800 backpacks with school supplies were given to military families. Girls and mothers provided bags of homemade Christmas goodies to families at the Operation Homefront holiday dinner.

Both chapters have lengthy lists of charitable programs they support and provide womanpower for, from Care and Share Food Bank and Cheyenne Mountain Zoo to Silver Key Senior Services and the Humane Society.