St. Jude’s Women’s Auxiliary expands scope of fundraising

For decades, the St. Jude's Women's Auxiliary has raised money to benefit St. Jude's Ranch for Children in Boulder City.

Now, said President Kelly Sherman, the auxiliary is broadening its horizons and working to raise money for other Southern Nevada nonprofit organizations that work with neglected and abused children, too.

The auxiliary was founded in 1964. Over the years, the auxiliary's efforts have helped to fund everything from sports facilities to -- most recently, via a donation of $100,000 -- the purchase of five vans for the ranch.

When the auxiliary was founded, there were no other charities in the valley that worked with abused or neglected kids, Sherman said. However, St. Jude's has grown since then and now maintains two additional campuses in Texas.

The valley also has grown in that time, Sherman added. "Now, we have so many organizations and so many more needs in town ... that we felt we would be better to spread our wings a little bit."

So, in May, the auxiliary decided to start entertaining proposals for funding from other local nonprofit groups, with a special interest in those that help abused or neglected children. The auxiliary each year will select two local agencies with which to share the proceeds of its fundraising efforts, Sherman said.

However, the auxiliary will keep its current name in honor of St. Jude, Sherman noted.

The auxiliary raises money, first, through its two major fundraisers: a Christmas Bazaar, this year scheduled for Nov. 13 at the Gold Coast, and the Second Hand Rose Fashion Show, scheduled for Feb. 18 at the Gold Coast.

In addition, the auxiliary raises money through sales at its Good Buy Shop, a thrift store at 1717 E. Charleston Blvd.

The auxiliary has more than 260 members, Sherman said, and membership is open to anybody, man or woman, age 18 or older.

The auxiliary also accepts financial donations to fund its work, as well as donations of goods for resale at its thrift shop.

"The only thing we don't take is major appliances," Sherman said. "But we will take everything else as long as it's in good shape and we can resell it."

For more information about membership or the St. Jude's Women's Auxiliary, call 386-0772.