Women's Auxiliary Plano Chapter
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 60 years.
Our mission: To make life better for children.
Join The Women's Auxiliary Plano
Letter from the President
Dear Members of the Women’s Auxiliary to Children’s Medical Center Plano,
With great excitement, I welcome you to our 15th year of partnering together to make life better for children! I have excitedly anticipated serving as your president and am grateful to our many leaders who not only shared their wisdom but also contributed their indescribable skills and creativity.
We are taking on new heights as the new tower opens and numbers increase, from patients served to new staff members joining the Children’s Health family. I challenge each of us to think creatively, as we roll up our sleeves to volunteer and find more ways to come together and continue the amazing legacy of our founding members. Our community is so fortunate to have Children’s Health and it is not lost on our Auxiliary that we get to be a part of something incredible together.
Looking ahead, we will be celebrating our 15th anniversary along with the grand opening of the new tower. We are brainstorming more ways to continue growing membership so we can adequately serve the growth that is taking place right before our eyes. Our beloved Patient Cart continues the trademark service rolling through the hospital serving the many patient families. Planning is gearing up as we prepare to put in place the next Five-Year Strategic Plan. Our staff support team has set plans in motion of how we can share our care for the growing staff. We will be introducing a new mahjong fundraiser in the fall and continuing to grow our events that have become community favorites.
Whether you are a new or a founding member - thank you for saying yes and for your heart for Children’s Medical Center Plano. I am so grateful to each woman who has contributed their time, talents, and treasure to making our beloved organization so special. We are thrilled to come alongside one another with full hearts and creative vision to keep the ongoing legacy of Women’s Auxiliary a strong and vibrant organization for years to come.
Sincerely,
Heather Lothes
President 2024-2025
Women’s Auxiliary to Children’s Medical Center Plano
-
Donate to the Auxiliary
The Women's Auxiliary carries out its mission by raising funds to support high-needs areas of the hospital. Thank you for helping us.
-
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. Join us today!
-
Events and Projects
We raise funds through a variety of annual fundraising projects and events. Click below to review our events and get involved.
2023-24 Women's Auxiliary Plano Photos
-
Leadership
Congratulations to our 2024-2025 chairs. Your leadership will help Children's Health fulfill its mission to make life better for children.
- President
Heather Lothes - President-Elect
Kim Gleason - Treasurer
Lori Kreitman - Treasurer-Elect
Virginia Curry - Recording Secretary
Lisa Raskin - Corresponding Secretary
Sheri Steele - Parliamentarian
Diane Hopson - Boo Yard Sign Challenge
Kelley Spurlock
Beth Vasil - Communications
Allison Doyle - Deck the Halls
Brandi McKay
Kelly Noonan
Melanie Wong - Deck the Halls-Elect*
Justine Sweeney - Gifts
Allison Doyle
Donna Ivy - Graphic Design*
Amber Wax - Hospitality
Janie Burke
Joany Pardee - Legacy of Love
Amanda Konersmann
Justine Sweeney - Legacy of Love-Elect
Donna Ivy
Melanie Perkins - Mahjong
Joan C. Smith
Sharon Yager
- Membership
Lori Antonioli - Newsletter*
Stephanie Berry - Nominating
Melanie Perkins - Patient Support
Diane Danks - Patient/Family Support Cart
Marilyn Mahoney - Patient Support Blanket Coordinator*
Jackie Almquist
Whitney Digges - Patient Support Hospital Holiday Party Coordinator*
Jenny Wood - The Red Balloon League
Auburn Pope
Erika Gebhardt - Santa’s Workshop
Kelley Feagins
Donna Ivy - Santa’s Workshop-Elect*
Caitlin Ayres
Michelle Pisciotta - Social Media*
Elyse Graver - Special Events and NTGD
Amanda Konersmann
Michelle Pisciotta - Sponsor Development
Courtney Echols - Staff Appreciation
Christel Morrison - Staff Appreciation Basket Coordinator*
Michelle Lauck
Leslie Peskind - Staff Appreciation/Holiday Gift Wrap Coordinator*
Becky McKinney
Tami Sendelbach - Strategic Planning Chair
Joan C. Smith
*Ex officio, non-voting members of the Board of Directors
- President
-
Lifetime Members
Plano Lifetime Members (as of August 2024)
- Susan Abernethy
- Jackie Almquist
- Lara Ashmore
- Stephanie Barnes
- Lori Barry
- Carrie Benson
- Jennifer Berry
- Denise Bickel
- Rita Bisacca
- Wendy Blackwell
- Sandy Brennan
- Donna Bryant
- Karla Bryant
- Lynn Buxton
- Jean Callison
- Nora C. Carter
- Rebecca Egelston Caso
- Traci Chrisman
- Phyllis Cole
- Laura C. Curran
- Betsy deVenny
- Chris Krupa Downs
- Allison Doyle
- Christina Durovich
- Courtney Echols
- Jennifer Edgeworth
- Lucy Edling
- Wendy Engibous
- Casey Erdmann
- Wanda B. Farr
- Nina Felt
- Rachel Friedman
- Dawn Gall
- Pamela Grant-Clark
- Lisa Guerrero
- Sherie Hammett
- Holly Hassmann
- Stephanie Hilburn
- Diane Hopson
- Joyce Houlihan
- Ronelle Ianace
- Donna Ivy
- Cindy Johnson
- Jennifer Johnson
- Patricia Johnson
- Lori Kreitman
- Dee Ann Kundysek
- Mindy Lefevre
- Cece Liekar
- Nicki Loper
- Marilyn Mahoney
- Kathy Manack
- Downie Mathis
- Brandy Matthews
- Jenni McGaha
- Becky McKinney
- Becky McKinney
- Jenni McGaha
- Debi Means
- Letty Minkoff
- Christi W. Mitchell
- Joa Muns
- René Neely
- Kimberly Nelon
- Lisa Norton
- Mary O'Hanlon
- Cissy Oldner
- Laran O'Neill
- Belinda Orland
- Joany Pardee
- Linda Paulk
- Maggie Peck
- Holly Pennett
- Ashleigh Pogue
- Nicole Powell
- Peggy Pratt
- Kathy Ott Prior
- Marlo Pulliam
- Kathy Railsback
- Lisa Raskin
- Abby Ray
- Traci Redding
- Kay Richardson
- Jan Richey
- Dorly Roy
- Kathi Rupp
- Carol P. Schauer
- Kathy Schell
- Theresa Sinacola
- Colleen Smith
- Joan C. Smith
- Sheri Steele
- Susan Strandt
- Jenny Stutler
- April Tate
- Kimberly N. Terrazas
- Tracy Tomson
- Ruthie Vander Lugt
- Sherrie Varrichio
- Lisa Viguet
- Donna Watkins
- Beth Webb
- Lisa Phelan Wellen
- Nancy B. Welwood
- Allison Whitfield
- Carly Wohlers
- Pam Wohlers
- Sharon Yager
- Tina Young
-
Hospital Support
The Women's Auxiliary supports Children's Health in many ways:
Staff Support
Throughout the year, Auxiliary members express their appreciation to the staff at Children’s for their commitment to 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. In addition, during the holiday season, the Women’s Auxiliary offers their time and talents to a gift-wrapping service for the Children’s Medical Center Plano staff.
Patient Support
At the Plano Campus, the Auxiliary's Patient Support Committee has many opportunities to get involved. Volunteers participate in making fleece blankets for patients, creating 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 hospital as comfortable as possible for patients and their families by delivering complimentary snacks and toiletries via the Patient/Family Support Cart. The Auxiliary conducts drives throughout the year to collect items such as the following for patient support programs:
- 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. If you would like to help, please contact patientsupport.plano@childrensauxiliary.org to get involved.
-
History of Giving
Since 1962, the Auxiliary has continued its tradition and rich history of service to Children’s Medical Center by raising funds for hospital priorities through annual fundraising events and special projects. Through the incredible generosity and countless volunteer hours of its members and a community of friends and supporters, the Auxiliary has gifted nearly $29 million to Children’s Health.
The following is a list of gifts made by the Women’s Auxiliary to Children’s Medical Center Dallas and Plano chapters:
Construction and Renovation
- 12th Floor Critical Care Unit at Children's Dallas (wePromise Campaign gift)
- Center of Excellence in Godly Play
- Children's Garden
- Children's Medical Center Plano expansion
- Emergency Department renovation
- Gift Shop and Admitting area renovations
- The Heart Center
- ICU Room in honor of George Farr
- ICU Room in honor of Linda Harris
- Krissi Holman Family Resource Library and Children's Collection
- Neurology EEG room
- Nourishment Room - Children's Medical Center Plano
- Pauline Allen Gill Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit renovations
- Renovations to the Psychiatric Unit and Intensive Care Unit waiting rooms
- School classroom for the patient education program
- Team Work Station - Children's Medical Center Plano
- Three operating suites at CHildren's Dallas (Diamond Jubilee Campaign gift)
- Transfusion service improvements and outpatient phlebotomy lab
- Transport services communications system improvement
- Women's Auxiliary Playground expansion
Education
- Asthma education pilot program
- Bilingual services initiative education and evaluation
- Clinical Research
- Diabetes nurse educator
- Home health care teaching guides
- Management and staff development
- Pathology/lab multimedia computer systems
- Patient preparation materials
- Plating distracting module for plastic surgery
- Sepsis simulation equipment and training software
- Toughbooks with charging stations
Equipment
- Angel Eye Cameras for Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
- Audiovisual carts for Pediatric Trauma
- Beds and cribs
- C-Arm portable X-ray for Pediatric Trauma
- Caldwell Sierra Summit Electromyography Machine
- Children's Corner Gift Shop Systems Improvement
- Diagnostic equipment for the Fetal Neonatal Program
- DVD players and movies
- External pacemakers for Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit
- Heart Center Nordic MRI-Safe Tablet
- ICU televisions and VCRs
- Infant immobilization chair
- iPads and customized stands
- Laerdal SimBaby for Respiratory Care
- Laerdal SimKid and Glidescope
- Life-support equipment
- The Mindray SP5-1s Ultrasound Probe
- Monitor and warmers for the Seay Emergency Center
- Neonatal patient room equipment and crib
- NOMAD Pro handheld X-ray Systems
- Orthodontic Scanner
- Ottobock Kima Strollers
- Oxygen blenders and ECMO equipment
- Pagers for ICU families and parent amenity kits
- PICU Bladder Scanners
- Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS)
- Playground at Children's Plano
- Portable defibrillator/oximeter for Children's Transport Service
- Portable X-ray machine
- Pro Pac Monitor for Transport Service
- Rehabilitation and Therapy Services
- Relay Robot
- Security safes for patient rooms
- Sleep-monitoring equipment
- Stryker cribs for operating rooms and operating room microscopes
- Surgical robotic arms and cameras
- Volunteer Management software
- Wheelchairs for the Seay Emergency Center
- Wheelchairs for teen population
- Women's Auxiliary Playground at Children's Medical Center Plano
- Virtual Reality Equipment for Chronic Pain Rehabilitation
- Zoll X Series Monitors for Children's Transport Services
Programs
- Arts & Humanities
- Art Therapy Program
- Bear Hugs
- Beads of Courage
- Bereavement Care
- Camp Moss
- Car Seat Safety
- Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders
- Center for Pediatric Eating Disorders
- Child Life
- Child Life - Funnyatricks ProgramTM
- Children's Centennial History Book
- Children's Health Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine
- Children's Health Response Fund
- Children's Plano 10-Year Carnival Celebration
- Children's Research Institute
- Comprehensive Gait and Mobility Program
- Earn Nose and Throat (ENT) Program
- Electronics package for patient infusion rooms at CCBD
- Employee Care Fund
- Endoscopy Lab/Omegaven Trial
- Extracorporeal Membranous Oxygenation (ECMO) Program
- Food Pantry in Partnership with North Texas Food Bank
- Foster Care
- The Heart Center - Neurodevelopmental Program
- Indigent Care
- Language Access Services
- Music Therapy
- Neonatal parent education
- Pastoral Care
- Patient and patient-family snack baskets for infusion rooms at Gill Center
- Patient Family Support Services
- Patient education program
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) - Child Life Specialist
- Pediatric Mental Health
- Pediatric Oncology Services
- Pediatric Stroke Project
- Pet Therapy Program
- Prenatal Dental Program
- Recreational Art Program
- Referral and Evaluation of At-Risk Children (REACH)
- School-based Telebehavioral Health
- School-based Telehealth program
- Seay Emergency Center - Nitrous Oxide Program
- Senior Nursing Student Day
- Sensory integration assessment/treatment
- Suicide Prevention and Resilience at Children's Program (SPARC)
- Summer teen volunteers
- Teen Recovery Program
- TeleNICU Services
Scholarships and Seminars
- Dallas Women’s Auxiliary Endowment for Children’s Health
- Dallas Women’s Auxiliary Endowment for Patient and Family Support Services
- Huvelle Memorial Loan Fund for Residents
- James Farnsworth Health Careers Scholarship Endowment
- Kenneth C. Haltalin Pediatric Seminar
- Pastoral Care Seminar
- The Plano Women’s Auxiliary Endowment for Children’s Health Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine
- Women’s Auxiliary Kathy S. Boobar Endowment for Indigent Care
- Women's Auxiliary Scholarship Fund