The Women's Auxiliary is a non-profit organization established in 1962 by leaders in our community with a mission to render efficient and effective service to all units of Children's Health℠. Our members have been dedicated ambassadors of Children's Health for the past 50 years.
Letter from the President
Thank you for your interest in being a part of the Women’s Auxiliary to Children’s Medical Center Plano. What a great time to be involved! Last year, Children’s Medical Center Plano celebrated 10 years of serving the community’s children and families. In 2020, we are excited that the Women’s Auxiliary will commemorate its 10th year of supporting the world-class care provided at Children’s Health. Our mission is simple – to make life better for children. If you’ve ever had a child, grandchild, niece, nephew or a friend’s child at Children’s – or maybe you were once a patient yourself – you know this is a very special place for anyone who enters its doors.
Providing life-saving care takes substantial resources and the dedicated doctors, nurses and staff can’t do it alone. That’s where the passionate and committed members of the Women’s Auxiliary come in! Our members and volunteers raise funds to support critical needs at the hospital so Children’s can continue to provide the best care possible for our patients and families. Over the past 9 years, the Auxiliary has given more than $1.5 million dollars to Children’s Plano. These funds were raised through a variety of events, including the Lights at Legacy Tree Lighting, Santa’s Workshop, Change for Children’s, the Women’s Auxiliary Red Balloon Run & Ride team, the Boo Yard Sign Challenge introduced last year and what has become a beloved signature event in our community, the Legacy of Love Benefit & Fashion Show.
For those who have time to give, there are many ways to get involved – both big and small! The Auxiliary supports Children’s patients, families and hospital staff in a variety of ways. Auxiliary members make patients and families at Children’s Plano feel as comfortable as possible by distributing necessity items from our Patient/Family Support Cart. Every child facing surgery receives a teddy bear not only to hug, but also to help staff demonstrate upcoming procedures and no-sew blankets are distributed to patients to offer comfort and security. Auxiliary members also encourage and recognize Children’s staff members for their tireless dedication and commitment with staff appreciation treat baskets and gift-wrapping services during the holidays.
This year our funding benefited many critical programs at Children’s, including the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, School-based Telehealth, Center for Pediatric Eating Disorders, Rees-Jones Center for Foster Care Excellence, Children’s Health Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, the ENT Program, Kathy S. Boobar Endowment for Indigent Care, Car Seat Safety, Bear Hugs, Patient Support Services, Pet Therapy, Music Therapy, Pastoral Care and Child Life.
As we enter our 10th year of service, I look forward to the continued growth of our Plano campus, as well as the growth of our dynamic organization. I promise you won’t meet a better group of women of all ages who are more dedicated to our community! I invite you to join us in our efforts and I look forward to volunteering alongside you as we continue to make life better for children.
Tracy Tomson
2019-2020 President
Women’s Auxiliary to Children’s Medical Center Plano
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Donate to the Auxiliary
The Women's Auxiliary carries out its mission by raising funds to support high-need areas of the hospital. Thank you for helping us.
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Become a Member
Membership is open to all women committed to the Auxiliary’s mission of helping Children's Health make life better for children.
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Events and Projects
We carry out our mission by raising funds to support high needs areas of the hospital through several annual fundraising projects and events.
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Leadership
Congratulations to our 2019-2020 officers. Your leadership will help Children's Health fulfill its mission to make life better for children.
- President
Tracy Tomson - President-Elect
Joan Smith - Treasurer
Brenda Harrell - Treasurer-Elect
Jean Callison - Recording Secretary
Lori Antonioli - Corresponding Secretary
Pam Wohlers - Parliamentarian
Joa Muns - Boo Campaign Coordinator
Joyce Logan - Change for Children’s
Amanda Konersman - Communications
Christel Morrison - Deck the Halls
Donna Ivy - Deck the Halls-Elect
Kelly Noonan - Graphic Design
Leslie Newman - Hospitality
Beth Webb - Legacy of Love Benefit & Fashion Show
Jenna Maynard
Heather Webb - Legacy of Love Benefit & Fashion Show-Elect
Caren Zepeda - Nominating
Sheri Steele
Nanette Pirek - Membership
Heather Lothes
Michelle Pisciotta - Patient Support
Kathy Schell - Patient Support Blanket Coordinator
Kay Anthony
Jennifer Johnson - Patient/Family Support Cart Coordinator
Karyn Driscoll - Patient Support Hospital Holiday Party Coordinator
Elyse Graver
Beth Vasil - Red Balloon Run & Ride
Allison Doyle - Santa’s Workshop
Auburn Pope - Santa’s Workshop-Elect
René Neely
Donna Watkins - Social Media
Catherine Caso - Special Events
Jennifer Tinsman - Sponsor Development
Diane Hopson
Sharon Yager - Staff Appreciation
Janet Caruth - Staff Appreciation Basket Coordinator
Alice Brumback - Staff Appreciation/Holiday Gift Wrap Coordinator
Diane Danks
Jenny Wood
- President
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Lifetime Members
Update Lifetime Membership Information
Plano Lifetime Members (as of June 2019)
- Susan Abernethy
- Dr. Lara Ashmore
- Stephanie Barnes
- Carrie Benson
- Denise Bickel
- Wendy Blackwell
- Sandy Brennan
- Donna Bryant
- Karla Bryant
- Jean Callison
- Cece Campanini
- Nora C. Carter
- Traci Chrisman
- Phyllis Cole
- Betsy deVenny
- Allison Doyle
- Lucy Edling
- Rebecca Egelston Caso
- Wendy Engibous
- Wanda B. Farr
- Nina Felt
- Dawn Gall
- Pamela Grant-Clark
- Lisa Guerrero
- Sherie Hammett
- Holly Hassmann
- Stephanie Hilburn
- Diane Hopson
- Joyce Houlihan
- Ronelle Ianace
- Patricia Johnson
- Mindy Lefevre
- Nicki Loper
- Marilyn Mahoney
- Kathy Manack
- Downie Mathis
- Jenni McGaha
- Christi W. Mitchell
- Joa Muns
- Kimberly Nelon
- Lisa Norton
- Mary O'Hanlon
- Belinda Orland
- Linda Paulk
- Ashleigh Pogue
- Nicole Powell
- Marlo Pulliam
- Lisa Raskin
- Abby Ray
- Traci Redding
- Carol P. Schauer
- Kathy Schell
- Teresa Sinacola
- Colleen Smith
- Sheri Steele
- Jenny Stutler
- April Tate
- Ruthie Vander Lugt
- Sherrie Varrichio
- Lisa Viguet
- Beth Webb
- Nancy B. Welwood
- Allison Whitfield
- Pamela Wohlers
- Sharon Yager
- Tina Young
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Hospital Support
The Women's Auxiliary supports Children's Health in many ways:
Staff Support
Throughout the year, teams of Auxiliary members express their appreciation to the staff at Children’s for their commitment to the hospital, our patients and their families. Baskets of treats are provided to show our support and gratitude for their hard work and dedication to those in the greatest of need.
Patient Support
At the Plano Campus, the Auxiliary's Patient Support Committee has many ways for volunteers to get involved. Volunteers ;participate in making fleece blankets for patients, collecting special treats and distributing holiday goodie bags during Halloween and Easter, assisting children with holiday crafts and activities during the annual Tree Lighting event and coordinating a patient family dinner. We help make the patient’s stay (and their family’s) at the hospital as comfortable as possible by delivering complimentary snacks and toiletries via the Patient/Family Support Cart. Drives are conducted throughout the year to collect items for the cart and other patient support programs including:
- Snacks and toiletries for the Patient/Family Support Cart
- Fleece fabric for blanket projects
- Art supplies for the Eating Disorders Clinic
- Crayons and coloring books
- Halloween and Easter goodies
The Patient/Family Support Cart makes a huge impact on thousands of patient families. We are pleased to provide this service and thank American Hotel Registry, GoGo Squeez & Niagara Bottling for their continued support to this complimentary service. If you would like to help, please contact patientsupport.plano@childrensauxiliary.org to get involved.
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History of Giving
The following is an abbreviated list of areas that have benefited from the support of the Women’s Auxiliary to Children's Medical Center Plano:
- Art and Music Therapy
- Art Projects
- Bear Hugs &
- Center for Pediatric Eating Disorders
- Children's Health Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine
- Children's Research Institute
- Equipment for Emergency Department
- Equipment for Interventional Radiology Suite
- Hand-Hygiene Program
- Indigent Care
- NOMAD Pro Handheld X-ray System
- Nourishment Room
- Ophthalmology Services
- Pastoral Care
- Patient and Family Support Services
- Peri-Operative Services
- Pet Therapy
- Picture Archiving and Communication System
- Playground Equipment
- Rees-Jones Center for Foster Care Excellence
- Rehabilitation and Therapy Services
- Social Work
- Virtual Health
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