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THE WOMEN'S AUXILIARY
OF ST. EDMOND'S HOME FOR CHILDREN
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A Short History The
Women's Auxiliary of St. Edmond's Home for Handicapped
Children was founded in 1917 by the Archbishop of
Philadelphia, the Most Reverend Edmond F. Prendergast.
Archbishop Prendergast had founded the Home for the care and
training of handicapped children in 1916. Mrs. Mary
Mundy was asked to organize an auxiliary for the purpose of
raising funds to maintain the Home and supply |
nursing care and therapy aids for the children. Mrs. Mundy and a
group of Catholic laywomen set up an organization able to
achieve these goals and continue the service and care of the
children of the Home for over seventy years to the present
time. A charter was granted to the Auxiliary in 1924.
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The
Home served as headquarters for the Auxiliary and in
the early years was the site of its fund raising.
There were breakfasts, lunches, card parties and
bingo games given to help the children. An
Annual Appeal was made by mail to the Catholic
community. In 1957 the Home was moved to
Rosemont and Auxiliary funds were used to furnish
the new buildings and the chapel. The Auxiliary also
maintained a summer camp "The Cedars" which had been
given to the |
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Home when the children could benefit from camp
activities. "The Cedars" was discontinued in 1982 as
the children were too handicapped for camp life. In
1985, the Auxiliary provided funds of over $300,000 to
renovate the Home and bring it into compliance with State
regulations and purchase state-of-the-art equipment.
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The
Auxiliary's most glamorous fund raiser took place in 1966
when the women were asked to sponsor the premiere of "The
Flying Nun" with Debbie Reynolds. Debbie herself was
present and introduced the children from the Home in her
"thank yous" to a full audience. Over $25,000 was
raised which at that time was a large amount for a single
event. |
A
tea was given for Grace Kelly, then Princess of Monaco, when
she visited the Home. Princess Grace toured the Home
while the children were given rides on the motorcycles of
the Philadelphia police escort.
In
the early years the Auxiliary was made up of a small Board
of Managers and several hundred members. Over the
years the Board increased and the membership decreased.
In 1984 the Board of Managers, numbering 90 became the
membership while retaining managerial status. An
Executive committee handles administrative and
organizational matters. There are also the Finance,
Fund Raising, Nominating and Volunteer committees.
Business of the Auxiliary is carried on through monthly
meetings and committee work. The Auxiliary now has 110
members.
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Members of the Auxiliary deserving special mention include
Mary Mundy, founding president, Margaret Sheahan, founding
vice president and president for several terms, Florence
Carpenter, president when the charter was granted, Alice
Scannell, who served at the time of the move to Rosemont.
Also Pearl Welsh, treasurer for over 30 years and Marie
Slavin, secretary for 25 years. |
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Note:
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This history was
written in part in answer to a request to supply
material for a history of
women and volunteerism in the Delaware Valley.
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If
you are interested in membership in the Women's Auxiliary, please
call St. Edmond's Home at 610-525-8800.
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