Don and JoAnn Soderquist Donate $1 Million to Mercy

ROGERS, Ark. (Dec. 16, 2004) – Don and JoAnn Soderquist, long-time residents of Rogers, have donated $1 million to Mercy Health System of Northwest Arkansas’ capital campaign to help transform healthcare.

"We give to missions that we believe in and we believe very strongly in what Mercy is accomplishing," said Mrs. Soderquist, who also serves as an advocate for the capital campaign. "This project will be of great benefit to many people. We are glad to help."

The new Mercy Medical Campus represents an extraordinary effort to transform the way healthcare institutions function. On one hand, it involves core issues such as patient safety and workplace simplification as well as the application of information technology to fundamental processes such as medication management and supply chain management; on the other, it entails replacing a 50-year old building with a new facility that will continue on our mission.

"We are extremely grateful to Don and Jo for helping us transform the way we provide healthcare," said Susan Barrett, President and CEO for Mercy Health System of Northwest Arkansas. "They are such a charitable couple in many ways – they work hard to make a difference in our society. I'm humbled they have chosen our project to support. Don and Jo understand that we are called to serve the northwest Arkansas community everyday with advanced, quality healthcare in a spirit of faith-based compassion and that our beliefs and core values are the backbone for our mission."

With Mr. and Mrs. Soderquists' gift, the capital campaign has reached $22 million. Executive Director of Development, Clark Ellison, expressed gratitude that "the Soderquists' gift will hopefully help provide even more momentum for the 'Building World-class Healthcare' campaign. They have been good friends of St. Mary's Foundation for many years. We are honored with this most generous contribution and their continued commitment to our cause."

Dr. Stephen Goss, Vice President/Physician Executive explained, "We are delighted about this gift and hope that it will provide incentive for enlisting the support of other donors. I am thankful for Mr. and Mrs. Soderquist for their ability to recognize what an extraordinary project this is for our region."

With a Fall 2007 anticipated opening, Mercy's 21st century medical campus will be funded by operational gains, investments and reinvestments totaling $105 million as well as money raised through the capital campaign. It will be anchored by a 350,000-square-foot medical center with 200 beds and emergency services and will include care in cardiology, orthopedics, neurology, and outpatient services. A medical office building to accommodate 90 physicians will complete the campus.