Alvirita Little Long Time Community Volunteer, Founder And First Executive Director Of The Girl’s Club Of Puget Sound Passes At 93

When Alvirita W. Little’s career military husband, Sgt. Frank “Sarge” Little, was transferred to Washington State in 1951, she quickly became a valued asset to the African American and greater Seattle community. She could be found volunteering with the NAACP, the Seattle Urban League, the National Council of Negro Women and planning the Debutante Ball with the Washington Rhinestone Club. Some of the other organizations that Alvirita volunteered with include the Boy Scouts, Altrusa, World Affairs Council, League of Women Voters, Seattle Lady Lions, The Foundation for International Understanding through Students (FIUTS) at the University of Washington, the YWCA, the Presidents Forum of the United Way, the Atlantic Street Center, the Red Cross Overseas Chapter and the YMCA. When approached by a Central Area parent who lamented about the lack of activities for girls, at a time when programs for boys were increasing rapidly, Alvirita Little founded the Girls Club of Puget Sound (now named Girls, Inc.) which began as an independent effort by her to help girls who, at that time in 1969, were not included in the mushrooming clubs, activities and opportunities for boys in the Seattle area. She started the organization, with donations from the Methodist Women and friends, in a large older home on Martin Luther King Jr. Way. The location became the fundamental heart of the Girls, Inc. programs and if you pass the house on MLK Way, you will see that it is named the “Alvirita Little Center.” It is one of two Girls, Inc, sites in Seattle and one of a limited number of structures in Seattle which are named for African American Individuals and it is cited in the book entitled “Tribute: Seattle Public Places Named for Black People” by author Mary T. Henry. The Girls Club program that Alvirita founded is now a part of the YWCA. Today, the building houses a teen center, classrooms, a gymnasium, an outside deck and concrete play area. The Center serves girls ranging in age from 6 to 18 in before and after school activities during the school year band in all day activities during the summer. Programs include hands on scientific discovery (science, math and relevant activities), substance abuse prevention, pregnancy prevention, and outdoors programs as well as informal education that empower girls to live and succeed in an equitable world. Another huge part of her life was the church. As a young girl, Mrs. Little became active in her local Methodist church. This interest continued as she moved from State to State and to foreign countries with her army career husband. For example, as a military dependant in Japan in the immediate post-World War II period, she raised money through the Methodist Church to build orphanages and rebuild churches in Japan. When the family was transferred to Seattle in 1951, she became active in the Seattle Area United Methodist Church. Her activities involved the local church, the Seattle District of the UMC, the Pacific Northwest Conference of the UMC, the Western Region of the UMC, the Western Jurisdiction of the UMC, the General Conference of the UMC and the Seattle Council of Churches. She, for years, was the Chair of the Black Colleges Fund for the General Council Financial committee of the UMC. She received the Bishop’s Award from the Pacific northwest Conference, is listed in “Who’s Who in the United Methodist Church” and was chosen as one of the 100 most influential women in United Methodist Women’s History by the United Methodist Church to celebrate the 1996 national centennial year. She was one of only eighteen who were living at the time of the honor in 1986. Alvirita’s caring for youth and spirit of Christianity also led to a deep commitment to increase cross cultural understanding internationally. This phenomenal woman opened her home and her heart to provide a home for 218 UW students from more than 46 different countries. She established her “home away from home” as a host family for the UW Foundation for International Understanding Through Students (FIUTS). Their introduction to America included familiarizing them with a whole new way of life, the home, the customs, the community and the University Campus. The students were then assisted by Alvirita with learning about transportation, money, housing and other necessities for a comfortable transition. The students always remain as a part of the extended “Little Family”. On holidays and special occasions, the students often gathered at the Little household where the celebration included Little’s own children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, extended family members and foreign students. Over the years, the holiday dinners have had as many as 52 persons for dinner, from as many as 12 different countries with returning visiting former students always welcomed. Over the years Alvirita acted as surrogate parents for her charges, for example, she planned weddings for students from Africa, Norway, New Zealand, Australia, Taiwan, Korea, India, The Philippines, Jamaica and the Sudan. She attended weddings of some of her students in Japan. Over the years, she traveled to visit students and their families in Hong Kong, Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, Indonesia, Singapore, Mexico, Germany, France, Sweden, Norway, Kenya, Spain, Morocco, Greece, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Trinidad. Even at 85 years of age, Alvirita was still very active in community volunteer activities. At that age she was still working with the Girls Club, United Way of King County’s Advisory Council on Aging, the Puget Sound chapter of the American Red Cross Overseas Association, Altrusa and various activities of the University Temple United Methodist Church. Alvirita was the recipient of many awards for her outstanding service to and for youth including: the Silver Beaver Award – the highest service award given by the Boy Scouts of America; the William H. Spurgeon III Council award from the Chief Seattle Council of the Boy Scouts of America; the Atlantic Street Center’s Service to Youth award; Youth Leader award from the E. K. and Lillian Bishop Foundation; Nordstrom Award for outstanding volunteer work; Humanity Award of the American Red Cross Overseas Assn.; NCNW Visionary Leadership and Outstanding Community Service Award; and the YWCA of Greater Seattle’s Milnor Roberts award. She has been recognized as a Woman of Achievement by the Matrix Table of the Women in Communications and received a Senior Volunteer award from the Senior Services of Seattle/King County. In 1984, an award was established in her name – “The Alvirita Little Award” – by Therapeutic Health Services (THS) in recognition of Alvirita’s over 50 years of professional and volunteer services to youth and families in the greater Seattle area. The Alvirita little Award honors individuals or organizations that have contributed continuously and selflessly to children, youth, adults and families at-risk, especially those affected by chemical dependency and mental illness. Compassion and commitment epitomizes and describes Alvirita’s lifetime of volunteer work. She has touched many people and enriched many lives. Alvirita passed away at 7:30 in the evening on Saturday, June 24, 2006 at the assisted living facility – Wesley Homes in Des Moines, Washington where she had made her home for the last six years from complications of advanced Alzheimer’s. Alvirita is survived by four children – Arthur Booker of Federal Way, Washington; Harold Booker of Seattle, Washington, Alvin Little of Kent, Washington and Vivian Lee of Kent, Washington and a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband, Sgt Frank “Sarge” Little and her oldest child, Verna Lee Hightower of Houston, Texas. A memorial service celebrating Alvirita’s life will be held on Saturday, August 5, 2006 at 11AM at The University Temple United Methodist Church, 1415 NE 43rd Street, Seattle, Washington 98105, Telephone – 206 632 0658. Free parking will be provided on the University of Washington Campus in lot N-1 (by the Burke Museum). The family of Alvirita request that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made in her memory to Therapeutic Health Services (THS), 1116 Summit Avenue, Seattle, Washington 98101. Page – 2