Hospital Auxiliary Meets $350,000 Capital Campaign Pledge

Rogers, AR (January 21, 2008) - With just 55 days left until Mercy Medical Center opens, the St. Mary's Hospital Auxiliary accomplished a five-year goal of raising $350,000 toward the St. Mary?s Hospital Foundation's $40 million Capital Campaign.

At their regularly scheduled Jan. 21 board meeting, the Auxiliary presented their final $70,000 payment to representatives of the Foundation and the administration of Mercy Health System of Northwest Arkansas.

"Our aspirations were ambitious, but we were faithful to the task and with the support of all of our volunteers able to accomplish our goal of raising $350,000," said Auxiliary President Shirl Coleman. "We are relieved to have reached this milestone and excited to see how healthcare in Northwest Arkansas will be transformed when the new hospital opens on March 16."

When the Auxiliary made the $350,000 pledge in April 2003, it represented the first major gift made to the Capital Campaign and was a true step of faith.

"The firm commitment that the Auxiliary made early on was critical to getting our capital campaign effort off the ground," said Clark Ellison, Chief Development Officer of the St. Mary's Hospital Foundation. "They caught our vision of transforming healthcare in Northwest Arkansas, and more importantly they believed it could be done. They led the way."

St. Mary's Hospital Auxiliary consists of approximately 200 dedicated volunteers, who raise money for the hospital, as well as scholarships for employees and high school students, through St. Mary's Gift Shop, handmade arts and crafts by talented members of the Auxiliary, and various fundraisers throughout the year.

The Foundation has raised $36 million toward the $40 million Capital Campaign goal.

About Mercy Health System of Northwest Arkansas

Mercy Health System of Northwest Arkansas, a not-for-profit faith-based health system, provides healthcare services to residents in northwest Arkansas and southwest Missouri. The System includes St. Mary's Hospital, St. Mary's Hospital Foundation, The Gardens at Osage Terrace assisted living facility and Mercy medical clinics in 22 locations throughout northwest Arkansas and southwest Missouri. Mercy is currently constructing a state-of-the-art medical campus just east of Interstate 540 off New Hope Road in southwest Rogers. When completed in January 2008, the campus will include a 350,000-square-foot medical center with 200 beds and a physician office building to accommodate 90 physicians.