Over the summer, I had the immense privilege of visiting with a few members of the Texas Children’s Auxiliary Board. We had a lot of laughs going down memory lane, but the purpose of the meeting was truly bittersweet for us all. After 70 monumental years of serving Texas Children’s and our patient families, the Auxiliary has decided to retire the program.
When I arrived at Texas Children’s in 1989, the Auxiliary was already a staple of our legacy. They began their journey with us in 1954 when we opened our doors and from that moment on, they remained an essential part of who we are as an organization. While the Auxiliary’s role in the hospital has transformed over the years, their purpose and goal to support Texas Children’s, our staff and the community we serve has always remained the same.
There have been countless unforgettable milestones for the Auxiliary — from their very first snack bar that was located near the main lobby of the original hospital building, to their toy and gift shops, to supporting the fellowship — the Auxiliary was always incredible at not only thinking outside the box, but remaining one step ahead on how they could better support our patients and their families.
When you take a step back and look at how much they’ve grown since those very first days, it’s truly an incredible story. It’s awe-inspiring to know that this amazing group knew our founders — they worked alongside them to create the foundation we’re built upon. If there’s one thing I know to be true, it’s that Jim Abercrombie and Leopold Meyer would be so proud of the Auxiliary today.
Over the last seven decades, fundraising and advocacy have played a large part of the Auxiliary’s mission, but there was always so much more to them. Their warm smiles greeted visitors and cheered up sick patients and their gifted hands rocked our tiniest babies. In fact, I fondly remember a time many years ago when I was walking the halls of the hospital and I saw Sharon Thompson, who has been with the Auxiliary since 1996, peacefully singing to one of our babies. It was such a beautiful moment that I decided to join her and sing along. Sharon and I got to reminisce on this memory last week and I’m so grateful to have experienced moments like these with the Auxiliary during my time here.
One of the strongest sentiments the Auxiliary Board shared with me during our meeting was that just because the Auxiliary is retiring, doesn’t mean they are retiring from volunteering. They will still be just as involved as ever and will continue to play an integral role throughout Texas Children’s.
As I reflected on our rich history together and prepared to put my thoughts on paper for this blog, there was one Auxiliary member who came to mind — Elaine Kuper. Elaine was a Charter Member of the Auxiliary and spent 61 extraordinary years volunteering at Texas Children’s before she passed away last year at the age of 100. She spent more than half her life here, and even retiring in 2015, she still found ways to support us when she could. Her life of service is exactly why our Volunteer Services Office is dedicated in her honor.
Although the Auxiliary Program may be coming to a close, I assure you that its legacy is not. Not only will the spirit of the Auxiliary live on in every part of the hospital and in every person they’ve impacted, but it will soon be memorialized permanently at our Texas Medical Center Campus. Because we know how much this legacy installation piece means to our volunteers throughout the organization and because the Auxiliary’s dedication to Texas Children’s means just as much to my family, my wife, Shannon, and I are honored to make a personal gift toward memorializing the Auxiliary.
To every single member of the Texas Children’s Auxiliary, thank you for your unwavering dedication and the incredible impact you’ve made over the years. The help and support you’ve provided is immense, invaluable and it’s felt throughout the entire organization. The Auxiliary’s unmatched legacy is a testament to the profound difference that dedicated individuals can make in the lives of others and will forever be a cherished part of the Texas Children’s story.
It has been a tremendous honor and privilege to partner with the Auxiliary during my tenure at Texas Children’s. The program is an important part of Texas Children’s history. The legacy of the Auxiliary and its cherished members will most certainly live on! t has been a tremendous honor and privledge to partner wAIt has been a tremendous honor and privilege to partner with the Auxiliary during my tenure at Texas Children’s. The program is an important part of Texas Children’s history. The legacy of the Auxiliary and its cherished members will most certainly live on!