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Association of Auxiliaries for Children

The Association of Auxiliaries is a group of passionate volunteers dedicated to a shared mission of providing extraordinary care to children, regardless of their families’ financial circumstances.

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Members of the Auxiliaries

Legacy of Service

The Association of Auxiliaries is dedicated to ensuring that children in our community receive the medical care they need. See what makes our Auxiliaries so special.

Members of the Auxiliaries at a 100 year anniversary celebration

About the Auxiliaries

Auxiliary members are a vital part of Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford’s history. They are volunteers and philanthropists who work passionately to support children and families at Packard Children’s Hospital, and have raised millions of dollars and devoted countless hours of their time to support the care of children. 

Their volunteer service and fundraising efforts include hosting special events, managing retail businesses, and providing services that benefit our patients and their families.  

Auxiliary volunteers come from diverse walks of life and communities across the Bay Area, but they have one important thing in common: They share a commitment to supporting Packard Children’s patients and their families.

History of the Auxiliaries

The Association of Auxiliaries for Children was established in 1919, when the Stanford Home for Convalescent Children (also known as the Con Home) opened its doors to children discharged from the Stanford-Lane Hospital in San Francisco.

Charter Auxiliary was the inaugural Auxiliary established to raise funds to help families pay for the care of their children at the Con Home. The Auxiliary laid the foundation for what eventually became a hallmark of Packard Children’s mission: providing medical care to children in need, regardless of  families’ ability to pay.

Today, more than 100 years later, there are six independent Auxiliaries consisting of nearly 1,000 volunteers spanning from San Francisco to San Jose with a shared mission of raising funds for the hospital.

See our incredible centennial history! 

Members of the Auxiliary at a hospital ribbon cuting

The Auxiliaries Endowment

The Association of Auxiliaries for Children established the Auxiliaries Endowment in 1999 to expand their legacy and build on their long-standing commitment to support Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford. The purpose of the endowment is to assist the hospital in launching pioneering initiatives, provide funding for groundbreaking projects, and expand existing pediatric services and programs.

The Auxiliaries Endowment provides more than $1 million in grants annually for a wide variety of programs and research projects at Packard Children’s. 

Contributions to the Auxiliaries Endowment come from Auxiliary members, their families, friends, and community members who want to make a gift as part of their estate plans. To learn more about how to support the Auxiliaries Endowment, email auxiliaries@LPFCH.org.

Meet and Join the Auxiliaries

Allied Arts Guild Auxiliary

Allied Arts Guild Auxiliary

The Allied Arts Guild Auxiliary owns and operates the Allied Arts Guild, a historic California landmark located in Menlo Park. The Guild features seasonal gardens, striking Spanish Colonial architecture, artists’ studios, and unique shops including the Artisan Shop, the proceeds of which help support patients and their families at Packard Children’s. The property also features a charming eatery, Café Wisteria.

Event tables set up in the garden

Charter Auxiliary

The inaugural Auxiliary supported improvements at the newly opened Con Home, with the first 25 members contributing $12 each a year. It held its first rummage sale in Menlo Park in the 1920s, beginning a tradition that continued on the Stanford campus for many years and lives on today at pop-up locations. 

Roth Auxiliary

In honor of Mildred Hayes Roth, who devoted 50 years to supporting sick children, the Roth Auxiliary formed to manage the Gift Shop when Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital opened in 1991. The Gift Shop offers a bright and cheerful space for shoppers to browse through a thoughtful inventory of toys, books, sundry items, jewelry, Stanford logo wear, and so much more! The Gift Shop only delivers to patient rooms at Packard Children’s. All proceeds are donated to the hospital.

A volunteer stands in the gift shop

San Francisco Auxiliary

In 1931, the San Francisco Auxiliary was founded and quickly became one of the most prestigious groups in the city. It initially organized an annual barn dance at the Palace Hotel, operated a bakery, and staged fashion shows with the city’s major department stores. Since 1953, it has hosted the enormously successful Jewel Ball, one of San Francisco’s longest-running charity galas.

Jewelry displayed on a table

San Jose Auxiliary

The San Jose Auxiliary’s roots date to 1942, when members worked as sales staff in a San Jose department store and donated their salaries to the hospital. In 1947, it launched a major undertaking: a thrift shop selling used clothing, household goods, and other treasures.

Today, the Thrift Box is a thriving retail store run entirely by volunteers. There are many ways to get involved including receiving and sorting donations, merchandising and creating beautiful window displays, and assisting shoppers on the floor. All proceeds from the Thrift Box support care for patients at Packard Children’s Hospital. The Thrift Box is located in San Jose’s desirable Willow Glen neighborhood.

San Mateo-Burlingame Auxiliary

The San Mateo-Burlingame Auxiliary hosted its first fundraising gala in 1947, a lavish affair in Hillsborough that was featured in LIFE magazine. Several years later, the Auxiliary opened the Garden Café, a restaurant and tearoom. The café remained a thriving enterprise for 47 years. Today, the San Mateo-Burlingame Auxiliary’s Game Day fundraiser offers bridge, mahjong, dominoes, lunch, and a raffle.

Room full of people playing games at tables.

“Each one of our Auxiliary groups fundraises differently for the hospital, from running businesses and hosting special events to making care kits or receiving blankets. We have something for everyone looking for a special volunteer opportunity.”

Lisa Cole, President, Association of Auxiliaries for Children
People holding quilts

Meet the Affiliates

In addition to the six Auxiliaries, five affiliate organizations have a wide variety of volunteer opportunities available. Interested in getting involved? Email us at auxiliaries@LPFCH.org.

  • Dec My Room: Decorates the rooms of children who have prolonged stays in our hospital
  • Little Libraries: Brings the joy of books to our clinics and underserved communities
  • Teen Van Affiliate: Supports care through fundraising and by providing toiletries and other necessities to youths seen at the Stanford Children’s Health Teen Van
  • Hearts and Hands: Makes items that provide comfort and care to brighten the lives of patients
  • Friends of Packard: More information coming soon!

The Power of Giving

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“I want to cut this ribbon in honor of Lucile Packard,” said Roth Auxiliary co-president Esther Ellis, standing before a bright red ribbon with a...

Yesterday, our Association of Auxiliaries for Children held its annual Celebration Luncheon. It was an honor to be joined by Stephen Roth, MD, MPH, and...

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