The gift that keeps giving
The Central DuPage Hospital Auxiliary supports programs at the Winfield hospital through fundraising, public awareness and community service activities and events.
Auxiliary members operate a pair of gift shops in the hospital, as well as a resale shop in Wheaton. They also conduct annual fundraisers that include a cookie and bake sale and a fashion show.
The group's most recent fundraising effort was its fashion show -- featuring clothing from Macy's at Stratford Square -- in early March at the Prairie Landing Golf Course near the DuPage Airport. The models included hospital volunteers, employees and even doctors.
Auxiliary member Jane Billish recently shared some of the group's goals and accomplishments with the Daily Herald.
Q. What is your mission?
A. Our mission is to support Central DuPage Hospital through programs of fundraising, public awareness and community service.
Q. How do you work toward accomplishing that goal?
A. We operate the two gift shops in the hospital, as well as the Wise Penny Resale Shop on Main Street in Wheaton.
We hold fundraisers throughout the year, ranging from The Yule Yummies cookie and craft sale to a fashion show. Our shops have promotional events to increase funds that are available for programs.
Currently, we are in the fifth year of a five-year $1 million pledge to the Central DuPage Hospital Foundation for use in the new oncology facility at Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield.
Every year the auxiliary awards scholarships to health-care students of all levels within the service area. The total amounts of the scholarships vary according to our budget and available funds. Last year we awarded more than $30,000 in scholarships.
The auxiliary has reviewed and awarded grants to hospital and community programs in accordance with our mission.
The Wise Penny Resale shop provides quality merchandise at affordable prices to the community.
The auxiliary has believed in the Homecare Physicians program since its inception. We have been both happy and proud to provide funds to such an amazing group of physicians and their wonderful programs.
Q. Who specifically do you serve?
A. The auxiliary supports Central DuPage Hospital and the communities it serves.
Q. When and why did the organization start? How has it grown?
A. The auxiliary was started in 1961 by a group of community volunteers who raised funds to build Central DuPage Hospital. The auxiliary has remained an organization of volunteers who continue to serve the hospital and the community.
Our organization has fluctuated in size, both increasing and decreasing at different times. Currently, we have more than 250 members.
Q. What kind of successes have you had?
A. We have fulfilled many grants to the hospital and community, ranging from providing bicycle helmets to area schools to AED's for the DuPage County Sheriff's Department. We have provided funding for things that may not fall within the budgeting criteria.
We fund health-care scholarships as part of an annual program.
We provide awards to the first baby of the new year and honor all mothers and fathers in the hospital on Mother's Day.
Q. What challenges do your organization face?
A. Like most volunteer organizations, we would like to attract more members.
Q. What do you wish the community at large knew about your organization?
A. The Central DuPage Hospital Gift Shop, the Gift Shop Too (a shop focused on children) and The Wise Penny are the main sources of funds for the auxiliary.
A large local publication rated the Wise Penny as the second best resale shop in the Chicagoland area. The first-place winner was Once Upon a Child, which is a national chain store.
We also have social events like our fashion show.
How to donate
There are many opportunities to volunteer in CDH shops, and the auxiliary can accept financial donations.
The Wise Penny Resale Shop can accept all donations of goods that can be re-sold to the community. The shop also will take items on consignment at the discretion of the shop manager.
The merchandise drop-off address for the Wise Penny Resale Shop is 122 N. Main St., Wheaton, IL. Info: (630) 665-8628.
Donations can be mailed to: Central DuPage Hospital Auxiliary, 25 N. Winfield Road, Winfield, IL 60190.
To volunteer: (630) 933-6207