The VCU Medical Center Auxiliary celebrated a record-breaking year, awarding 70 team member projects a total of $402,470 in grants — the largest amount awarded since the auxiliary’s inception in 1974.

The auxiliary, a volunteer organization that hosts fundraising activities to benefit VCU Health initiatives, supports VCU Health team member-led projects that focus on:

• Patient satisfaction and customer service
• Establishing a culture of safety and excellence
• Commitment to adequate and timely service
• Transformation through information technology service
• Financial performance
• Workforce development
• Strategic innovations
• Community partnerships

The auxiliary program has funded many popular patient-focused programs, including:

• Dogs on Call, which trains certified therapy animals to visit with patients who love dogs or miss their family pets while in the hospital, helping to ease the hospital stay, reduce stress and improve the healing environment.
• Retreat and Refresh Stroke Camp, which, in partnership with VCU Health, allows stroke survivors and their caregivers to participate in a respite experience focused on support and education.
• VCU Health Orchestra, which promotes and enhances relationships through rehearsals, performances and community outreach. For its fifth season, the orchestra plans to perform at Firehouse Theatre, Cathedral of the Sacred Heart and Dogwood Dell.

This year, over 60 of the 70 grants awarded are for patient-focused projects, including:

• Head coverings for oncology patients who have experienced hair loss as a side effect of cancer treatments.
• Home scales for pulmonary arterial hypertension patients who are in need.
• Multimodal virtual reality technology tools to aid pediatric patients’ recovery, pain management and coping.

The auxiliary recently hosted its grant awards ceremony for the first time in two years, after being put on pause due to COVID-19. 

The grants are specifically funded with proceeds from the Three Bears and River City Treasures gift shops, vendor sales and special events such as the Dancing with the Richmond Stars competition.

Learn more about the VCU Medical Center Auxiliary and its philanthropic work on the VCU Health website.