As a volunteer member of the Auxiliary, you will help to make CCMC a better place for the children of Connecticut. There are many ways to become involved. You may wish to help with our annual Storybook Gala, volunteer at the Gift Shop, join a committee that offers support to community-based children’s programs, or simply let your membership dues work for you. As a member, you will receive the Auxiliary’s newsletter, Helping Hands, and be entitled to a 10% discount on all items at the Auxiliary Gift Shop. You will be invited to the Auxiliary’s annual gala and our annual meeting in June — and most important, you will make a difference to the children, staff, and visitors at CCMC. Please consider joining us!

Gift Shop
The Auxiliary manages the Gift Shop, which is located on the second floor of the Medical Center. Volunteers are always needed and welcome to work in the Gift Shop. The shop offers a wide array of unique children’s toys, books and games, CCMC logo wear, a creative array of distinctive gift items for all occasions, and much more.
Phone orders may be placed for same day delivery by calling the Gift Shop at (860) 545-9385. Gift Shop hours are 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM Mon-Fri.

Storybook Gala
The Auxiliary’s Storybook Gala continues to be our major annual fundraising event. Held since 1993, the gala is a premier event generously supported by Auxiliary members and the greater Hartford community of friends and businesses. The Gala is held in October and is attended by our guest children’s author, as well as our many supporters. A lot of hard work and a lot of fun, the Auxiliary’s Gala is a great way to volunteer and help us to achieve our mission to make kids better.

Outreach and Education Support
The Auxiliary’s Outreach and Education Committee supports community programs for children’s health and safety. In the past, Auxiliary funding has supported the Connecticut SAFE KIDS car seat program and fire safety programs. The Auxiliary has recently established a relationship with the Aetna Family Center located at the Learning Corridor in Hartford. We have donated food, clothing, and other items that may be needed by the center to support their community programs.

Program and Equipment Support
Since CCMC was established in Hartford in 1996, the Auxiliary has provided nearly $100,000 a year in funding from its Gift Shop and annual gala event to the Medical Center. These donations have allowed CCMC to purchase state-of-the-art equipment and to support innovative programs that meet the health care needs of Connecticut’s children. Major programs that have received Auxiliary support include the Pediatric and Youth HIV Program and the Bereavement Support Group for Children. We have also provided funding for large equipment purchases, including a surgical table, an operating microscope for the Otolaryngology Department, and an oscillating ventilator to help infants breathe. More recently, we have made a five-year pledge of $100,000 toward the Pediatric Intensive Care Family Waiting Room.

Staff Support
The Auxiliary promotes several ongoing efforts in support of CCMC staff. Our scholarship program offers two scholarships: our Scholarship for Children of CCMC Employees which provides a high-school senior with a $7,500.00 college scholarship and our Betty Sieniuc Annual Scholarship which provides a $1,000.00 scholarship to a CCMC volunteer, the child or grandchild of a CCMC volunteer who plans on furthering his/her education at a certified or accredited school.  Valentine’s Day gifts of “heart” felt candy wishes are given to all employees. “Goody bags” filled with playful items are given to third-year pediatric medical students to help minimize children’s fears while enhancing doctor-patient interaction. Additionally, our Annual Giving Committee awards many individual grants to CCMC departments, allowing the purchase of items not covered by operating budgets, such as educational materials, special equipment, and toys.

Membership
Become an Auxiliary Member.
View our bylaws (135k pdf)

Newsletter
Read the Connecticut Children's Medical Center Auxiliary's Newsletter,
Helping Hands - Winter 2008 (2.1MB pdf)

Get the Acrobat PDF reader here.

Contact:
860.545.8542
email: uauxiliary@ccmckids.org.