The Quiet Side of Strength Mercy Foundation Joins with Donors to Enhance Patient Care
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Fall 2008 Annual Report Mercy Medical center Foundation The quiet side of strength Mercy Foundation joins with donors to enhance patient care Mercy Medical Center Foundation Dear Partners in Caring: Since the spring issue of Partners we have experienced life-changing events in Cedar Rapids and here at Mercy Medical Center. Who could have anticipated that flood waters would extend ten blocks beyond the river and force necessary evacuations of all the patients in the hospital and in Hallmar? But it happened. Since those very eventful days in June 2008, we have “risen above it” thanks to the efforts of so many community volunteers, vendors, contractors, employees and friends from all over. Today, we are proud to show off the fruits of our labor. The hospital is beautiful, and we encourage you to stop for a visit. You’ll like what you see. A grand re-dedication and public open house of the Lundy Pavilion was celebrated on September 28, 2008, with a Mass said by Archbishop Jerome Hanus O.S.B We were saddened this past year by the loss of two inspirational leaders at Mercy. J. Edward Lundy and Abbott Lipsky were both charter members of our Founders’ Society and emeritus members of the Foundation Board. Mercy will be forever grateful for their generous gifts of time, talent and treasure. Their legacies live on through two special ways—the naming of Lundy Pavilion and the annual Lipsky Lecture Series held for all employees here at Mercy. While we have challenges ahead, we also have exciting new opportunities. Your gifts are needed to support our areas of greatest need and to continue to assist those devastated by the floods. It is my prayer for all of us, in the words of Catherine McAuley: “Let us rejoice when good is done, no matter by whom it may be accomplished.” Together, with your help, we are rising above all this, “better than ever.” Gratefully, Sister James Marie Donahue Chairman of the Board Flood Relief Fund Partners Assists Mercy Fall 2008 Employees Volume 28 On June 13th, Mercy Foundation In this issue: created the employee Flood relief Fund. since that time over $200,000 Unity in Mercy’s Community has been received from Mercy Mercy employees impacted employees, physicians, individuals and by the floods of 2008 organizations. Page 2 immediate assistance totaling $119,700 was distributed to 141 employees who were severely Hospice House Respite Care impacted by the flood. One Family’s Story 32 of those employees Page 7 lost their homes. in addition to monies raised, more than 1175 hours of paid leave were donated Becoming a Nurse by Mercy employees to help their Stephanie Greif pursues fellow co-workers. nursing degree Page 8 a brief respite from flood recovery occurred in July when Mercy helped bring “summer santa” to town. Free new toys and school supplies A Lifetime Devoted to were distributed to 500 area children Learning and Giving and parents. Arlene Beman shares generous spirit efforts are now underway to continue financial support for those with the Page 10 most critical housing needs. Mercy has dedicated a full time social worker to identify needs and assist the Annual Report hardest hit families with emotional, Page 13 physical and basic needs. gifts to the Flood relief Fund can be made by sending donations to the Mercy Foundation, 701 10th street se, or by donating online at www.mercycare.org and clicking on “employee Flood relief Fund.” Unity in Mercy’s Community Foundations in residences shifted, floors bowed, to panic. We have never flooded. The closest it had walls cracked and furnishings were ruined. The Flood of ever been, even in ’93, is two blocks away.” 2008 left many homes—and dreams—destroyed, but it When she left work that day, Deb fully intended couldn’t overcome the tide of goodwill flood-impacted to return to work as usual June 10, but the flood Mercy employees received from their workplace. changed those plans as her basement filled with water. In the disaster’s overwhelming aftermath, the Fortunately, they had moved their basement furniture Mercy Foundation almost immediately established an to the first floor of the ranch-style home she shared with Employee Flood Relief Fund. Each employee directly husband Phil. The Thomas family stayed with friends impacted by the flood received a $750 gift card to for five weeks during the clean-up period. help with critical needs. Long-term needs continue Deb says, “I called in (to work) and my boss said to be addressed as employees rebuild and recover. ‘take care of your house. Take care of what you need.’ In all, 221 Mercy employees have been significantly And I got paid the whole time.” affected by the flood. A few days later, she adds, “Janice Charles got hold Erika White, a financial counselor at MercyCare of me to say there were funds for displaced employees. Blairs Ferry, her husband, Shawn, and their children, ages This meant we were taken care of. While my employer seven and three, lost their Vinton home in the flood. On was suffering, they cared. Psychologically, it was huge. June 11, the water was 103 feet away from their home; You’re looking at total destruction of your belongings by 10 p.m. the water was at their back step. The Whites and beyond that, the things that made your house evacuated and moved in with Shawn’s parents, where function. We knew we’d have all those expenses and they remain until they can buy a new home. to know my employer was helping was huge. It was the Erika received a call from the Foundation office first money we received.” asking about her situation. When she returned to work, Deb came back to work June 19 and says, “It was she received the $750 gift card. good to come in and see the progress to get Mercy “It was nice to know that, even though Mercy was up and running again. I knew I had a job. I knew my going through so much on its own, it still cared about workplace would survive. So I could concentrate on its employees,” says Erika. “They said to use the gift making us survive.” card to help with any needs we may have. I haven’t A clean-up crew, organized through Mercy Medical heard about other companies who have been so great Center, showed up at the Thomas home to help. The with their employees.” crew, including Ben Charles, 23, (son of Tim Charles, While at work in the Information Services President & CEO of Mercy Medical Center), “spent department at Mercy Medical Center, Palo resident three days at our place and did just about everything, Deb Thomas got a panicked phone call from her down to cleaning and bleaching,” she says gratefully. daughter Chelsea, 24, on June 9—the day before the Erika’s and Deb’s comments echo a common flood reached Palo. Chelsea had taken a call from the and deep appreciation for their employer, Mercy. city warning them of the impending flood. Deb’s family is back in their home with some sense Deb remembers, “I told her to calm down and not of normalcy restored. For Erika’s family, it could be one to two years before they know exactly what will happen with their Vinton home. But one thing for sure—Erika, like other Mercy employees who suffered as of october 7, 2008, $203,572 has flood devastation, knows she has the continued support been donated to the employee relief Fund. of her co-workers and the Mercy Foundation. 2 | Mercy Medical Center Foundation Partners, Fall 2008 Erika White, a financial counselor at MercyCare, and Deb Thomas, Information Services department at Mercy Medical Center, were personally impacted by the 2008 floods. Mercy Medical Center Foundation Partners, Fall 2008 | 3 employee relief Flood Fund donors (through Sept. 5, 2008) richard & rachel aalbers larry & lori Burr Patty eaton Margaret Gustafson Mary Jean adams cory & Becky Bush Margie ebel r.c. & audrey Hagerman James & ruth affeldt arda Mae caldwell cindy eden norbert Hahn russ & rose allen clyde & doris cammack david & Julie ekland diane & Mike Hall alliant energy Foundation denise campbell John ellingson robin Hamann arlene & Bill allison (in memory of craig canavan Bernard & Madlyn erdman Hammel, Green and dorothy & carl Mumm) cardiologists Pc don & rita erusha abrahamson, inc. theresa alt Heather carey robert & arlene erusha diane Handler ruth altermatt Sister Betty carr dr. Steven & Mary eyanson Sister delores Hannon theresa anderson Harry carson Sister Mary rebecca Fidler Beverly Hardy anonymous dan carter c. eugene & dorothy Fifield tork Harman (in memory of Sheila larae Harman) constance arens Mary cashen norma & Jim Finerty irene Harrington Sr. Vicky arndorfer, rSM ( in honor craig & nancy cassagne dr. James & Sharlene Flynn of Sisters of Mercy Jubilarians dr. Percy & lileah Harris catholic Healthcare West rick & donna Flynn (in memory of 2008 and Sisters of Mercy Gail Harrison leadership team) the cBord Group, inc. rosemary Beaty) roberta Hartwig elspeth arnott tim & Janice charles arlis Ford carol Hatchett nici Baker Sister charlene chase Brad & dana Freese Frances Hatfield donna Banwarth Paul & eileen clarahan Mary Freese don & Mary lou Hattery leona Barker Joan colston Sister Gladys Frein david & Susan Haupt Barron Healthcare recruitment Sister lillan connolly (in honor of Sister lucy Frein Julia Hawkins Sue & Howard Beals Sister of Mercy Jubilarians 2008) dixie l. French Josephine cook connie Friedhoff (in memory of Kate Foster Hawkins (in memory of Penny Bear lee Hawkins) Judith cope James & anicetus Friedhoff Bud & Jean Beck Sue & John Hawn Melvin & Helen coppock irv Friedhoff (in memory of James & toni Bergeron anicetus Friedhoff James & Mona Hayes dick & Sherry cornish robert & Peggy Bevenour Sr.