Accepting the MCHS Friend of Children Award are MCHS Auxiliary Members: Stacey Jordan, Jennifer Bracken, Cathy Hudgins, Pam Nail, Kristen Malouf, Candace Jones, Missy Ingels, Kathy Eure and Lauren Benner.
Mississippi Children’s Home Services (MCHS) presented the Mississippi Children’s Home Services Auxiliary membership with the 2009 Friend of Children Award. The award recognizes an individual or group for the endless commitment to the children served through the agency.
“Auxiliary members have impacted lives of our children through their acts of kindness, their servant hearts and their endless energy,” said MCHS Chief Executive Officer Chris Cherney. “While our Auxiliary members are a diverse group of women, they are united in their mission, to ensure that each and every child knows that they are safe and loved, and that someone truly cares about them and their well-being.”
The Mississippi Children’s Home Services Auxiliary was founded in 2004 to assist in fundraising and to create and carry out projects that benefit the children we serve. Each month, the Auxiliary members host a monthly birthday party for ARK and CARES program residents. In addition to birthday parties, the Auxiliary conducts a reading program for the children, as well as grooming and etiquette parties.
“Every female resident ages six to 18 experience an evening of being a Princess,” said Cherney. “Our Auxiliary members throw a Princess Party each year to help make our young ladies learn the importance of inner beauty. Former Mrs. World Pam Nail shares her story about the challenges she faced as a young lady in an abusive home setting and how she made the right choices in life.”
During the Princess Party, Cherney added, each participant is treated to refreshments and leave the party with beauty products, tiaras, boas and an experience they will never forget. The Auxiliary members also coordinate and raise funds through the annual Mississippi Children’s Home Services Wine Tasting and Silent Auction.
“Four years ago, our Auxiliary spearheaded the wine tasting event,” said Cherney, “and the results were impressive. This event went from netting approximately $10,000 a year to more than $70,000 annually. It continues to grow each year, and this feat would not be possible without their outstanding charisma and attitude about making this the premier wine tasting benefit in central Mississippi.”
To find out more information on becoming a part of the Mississippi Children’s Home Services Auxiliary, contact Kelly Bilbo at Kelly.Bilbo@mchscares.org or call 601-709-1251.
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