Association of Auxiliaries for Children

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.