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Regular Session, 2014 ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 72
BY SENATOR ADLEY
A RESOLUTION
To commend the Minden St. Jude Auction and to recognize the owners and employees of
Sanders Machine Works for their generous contributions in 2014 to St. Jude
Children's Research Hospital.
WHEREAS, the Minden St. Jude Auction began in 1976 as a one-day radiothon
conceived by the Pete Treat family in conjunction with KASO Radio, Digger O'Dell, and Bo
Cook; Mr. Treat's vision was to support the hospital that treated his daughter, Ann, who lost
her battle with leukemia; and
WHEREAS, the first Minden St. Jude Auction raised $10,000, an amount far beyond
any expectations, and since then the auction has expanded to include a grand prize raffle and
items for bid that are donated by the generous residents of Minden and the surrounding
communities; and
WHEREAS, the Minden St. Jude Auction raised $1,248,296 in 2014, giving Minden
the proud distinction of being the largest per capita giver to St. Jude Children's Research
Hospital; in all, the Minden St. Jude Auction has raised more than 12.5 million dollars in the
thirty-eight years since its inception and has grown from a one-day event to four days of
televised and radio broadcast fundraising; the auction features hundreds of volunteers, a
statewide chili cook-off, a 5K/10K race, and a children's fun day following the race; and
WHEREAS, over the last several years, schools in Webster Parish have raised more
than $150,000 toward the Minden St. Jude Auction; the auction is a tradition that is now in
its third generation of volunteers, and this year the volunteers from Sanders Machine Works
deserve a special recognition for their generous contributions; and
WHEREAS, at the end of the 2014 5K run, owners Ricky and Diane Sanders and
their employees presented a $10,000 donation to the Minden St. Jude Auction organizers and
challenged the winner of the evening's grand prize drawing to donate his winnings to St.
Jude Children's Hospital; and SR NO. 72 ENROLLED
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WHEREAS, as fate would have it, Sanders Machine Works was the grand prize
winner and proudly made good on its own challenge, donating an additional $50,000 to the
Minden St. Jude Auction, bringing the Sanders Machine Works 2014 donation total to
$60,000 for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; and
WHEREAS, the success of the state , the strength of our communities and the overall
vitality of American society depend, in great measure, upon towns like Minden, dubbed "the
small town with a big heart", the Webster Parish community, and people like the owners and
employees of Sanders Machine Works, for their incredibly generous efforts toward funding
research so that one day, no parent will grieve the loss of a child to the plague of childhood
cancer.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby commend the organizers and volunteers of the Minden St. Jude Auction for yet
another wonderfully successful auction, does hereby offer a special commendation to the
owners and employees of Sanders Machine Works for their extraordinary donations towards
this worthy cause, does hereby congratulate the Minden St. Jude Auction upon exceeding
in 2014 all previous auction fundraising totals, and does hereby express sincere gratitude to
Minden auction participants for their financial contributions to St. Jude Children's Research
Hospital that help the hospital continue its mission to eradicate childhood cancers.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to Ms.
Melissa Brown and Ms. Christie Ruple, Minden St. Jude Auction cochairwomen and Ricky
and Diane Sanders of Sanders Machine Works.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE