Auxiliary of Lehigh Valley Hospital
The Auxiliary of Lehigh Valley Hospital has roots that date back more than a century. Caring deeply about the health and well-being of their community, 13 compassionate and civic-minded women formed the Auxiliary of Allentown hospital to raise money for the city’s first hospital. After collecting $5,300, they bought a plot of land at 17th and Chew streets in Allentown, and in 1899, they opened The Allentown Hospital. Decades later, another passionate group of women held a plant sale at an old stone farmhouse near where Lehigh Valley Hospital (LVH)–Cedar Crest stands today, marking the beginning of The Auxiliary of Lehigh Valley Hospital.
Today, The Auxiliary of Lehigh Valley Hospital volunteers in three bustling gift shops, with all proceeds benefiting the two hospitals. Members also coordinate vendor sales and other fundraising events throughout the year.
The Auxiliary is the only one in the nation to sponsor five endowed clinical chairs in medicine. The cost of funding a chair is $2 million, and each one supports education and clinical research in a specialized field of medicine.
Endowed chairs
- Critical care
- Emergency medicine
- Cancer care
- Orthopedic care
- Vascular surgery
President’s strategic fund
- Allentown pediatric food insecurity program
- Center for Healthcare Education
- Volunteer department fund
- Smile carts and VIP cart
- Holiday celebrations
- Logo wear van
- Volunteer blazers
Renovations
- Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital family restroom
- Auxiliary shop
- Kasych Pavilion front desk
Become a member
Annual membership: $10
Lifetime membership: $100
Interested in joining The Auxiliary of Lehigh Valley Hospital? Call 888-402-LVHN or pick up a brochure in the Tree Top Gift Shop at LVH–Cedar Crest.