Auxiliary turns Golden

Celebrating 50 years of caring and sharing

KUMC offers its thanks

Befitting its invaluable contributions to the medical center, the KUMC Auxiliary has just turned golden.

The 210-member, volunteer Auxiliary celebrated its 50th anniversary April 19. And it has a million reasons to celebrate; in that half century, the Auxiliary has contributed more than $1.1 million to various departments and programs campus-wide, from Pediatrics to Audiology, from Spencer Chapel to Social Work, from Family Medicine to Rehabilitation. And that just scrapes the surface.

"It’s important to reflect on the enormous contribution the Auxiliary has made to the medical center," said Executive Vice Chancellor Don Hagen, MD. "Their kindness and generosity and extra efforts have touched so many here."

The Auxiliary’s first minutes were recorded April 19, 1948. It was incorporated in 1974.

It’s stated objective is "to provide voluntary services and financial assistance to the University of Kansas Medical Center … and for the benefit of patients, students, employees and staff." The Auxiliary, as its lofty financial contributions bear testimony, have more than lived up to that lofty ambition.

"We have a lot of great talent, and they have donated that talent for 50 years," said current president Louise Redford, RN, MA. "I don’t think you can help but feel proud to be part of that."

In addition to their fund-raising, Auxiliary members contribute literally thousands of hours of volunteerism each year to the medical center.

The Auxiliary constantly seeks new members interested in assisting the KUMC community. For membership information, drop by either of the medical center’s two gift shops and ask.