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Regular Session, 2014
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 72
BY SENATOR ADLEY
COMMENDATIONS. Commends the Minden St. Jude Auction and recognizes Sanders
Machine Works and its employees for their 2014 contributions to St. Jude Children's
Hospital.
A RESOLUTION1
To commend the Minden St. Jude Auction and to recognize the owners and employees of2
Sanders Machine Works for their generous contributions in 2014 to St. Jude3
Children's Research Hospital.4
WHEREAS, the Minden St. Jude Auction began in 1976 as a one-day radiothon5
conceived by the Pete Treat family in conjunction with KASO Radio, Digger O'Dell, and Bo6
Cook; Mr. Treat's vision was to support the hospital that treated his daughter, Ann, who lost7
her battle with leukemia; and8
WHEREAS, the first Minden St. Jude Auction raised $10,000, an amount far beyond9
any expectations, and since then the auction has expanded to include a grand prize raffle and10
items for bid that are donated by the generous residents of Minden and the surrounding11
communities; and12
WHEREAS, the Minden St. Jude Auction raised $1,248,296 in 2014, giving Minden13
the proud distinction of being the largest per capita giver to St. Jude Children's Research14
Hospital; in all, the Minden St. Jude Auction has raised more than 12.5 million dollars in the15
thirty-eight years since its inception and has grown from a one-day event to four days of16
televised and radio broadcast fundraising; the auction features hundreds of volunteers, a17
statewide chili cook-off, a 5K/10K race, and a children's fun day following the race; and18 SR NO. 72
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WHEREAS, over the last several years, schools in Webster Parish have raised more1
than $150,000 toward the Minden St. Jude Auction; the auction is a tradition that is now in2
its third generation of volunteers, and this year the volunteers from Sanders Machine Works3
deserve a special recognition for their generous contributions; and 4
WHEREAS, at the end of the 2014 5K run, owners Ricky and Diane Sanders and5
their employees presented a $10,000 donation to the Minden St. Jude Auction organizers and6
challenged the winner of the evening's grand prize drawing to donate his winnings to St.7
Jude Children's Hospital; and8
WHEREAS, as fate would have it, Sanders Machine Works was the grand prize9
winner and proudly made good on its own challenge, donating an additional $50,000 to the10
Minden St. Jude Auction, bringing the Sanders Machine Works 2014 donation total to11
$60,000 for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; and12
WHEREAS, the success of the state , the strength of our communities and the overall13
vitality of American society depend, in great measure, upon towns like Minden, dubbed "the14
small town with a big heart", the Webster Parish community, and people like the owners and15
employees of Sanders Machine Works, for their incredibly generous efforts toward funding16
research so that one day, no parent will grieve the loss of a child to the plague of childhood17
cancer.18
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana19
does hereby commend the organizers and volunteers of the Minden St. Jude Auction for yet20
another wonderfully successful auction, does hereby offer a special commendation to the21
owners and employees of Sanders Machine Works for their extraordinary donations towards22
this worthy cause, does hereby congratulate the Minden St. Jude Auction upon exceeding23
in 2014 all previous auction fundraising totals, and does hereby express sincere gratitude to24
Minden auction participants for their financial contributions to St. Jude Children's Research25
Hospital that help the hospital continue its mission to eradicate childhood cancers.26
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to Ms.27
Melissa Brown and Ms. Christie Ruple, Minden St. Jude Auction cochairwomen and Ricky28
and Diane Sanders of Sanders Machine Works.29 SR NO. 72
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The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Tammy Crain Waldrop.
DIGEST
Adley SR No. 72
Commends the Minden St. Jude Auction and recognizes the owners and employees of
Sanders Machine Works for their generous contributions in 2014 to St. Jude Children's
Research Hospital.