The Medical, Educational, and Development (MED) Foundation of Mercer Health was established to provide enhancements and educational support for the future of healthcare services within our community.
The Charity Ball is a black-tie event hosted by the MED Foundation annually in November. The fundraiser features a cocktail reception, a three-course catered dinner, live music and entertainment. The winner of the Corvette reverse raffle is chosen and announced during the event.
Event InformationEach year the MED Foundation gives away a Corvette Stingray Coupe during a reverse raffle held in November. Tickets cost $100 each and only 1,000 are sold. Tickets for 2023 will be available for purchase beginning July 1.
Get Your TicketsThe Esmonde-Homan Golf Outing benefitting the MED Foundation is held annually at the Mercer County Elks located in Celina, Ohio. The proceeds from the golf outing fund our scholarship program, which supports graduating seniors from each of the six Mercer County schools pursuing an education in healthcare.
Learn MoreThe MED Foundation Scholarship Program was created to support the selection of careers in the healthcare profession by offering scholarships to graduating seniors from each of the six Mercer County schools interested in improving the health of the citizens in Mercer County and the surrounding area.
The Mercer Health Medical Student Scholarship program was created in 2020 by the Medical Staff of Mercer Health to support medical students from Mercer County and surrounding counties, as well as medical students who have participated in rotations at Mercer Health, by offering scholarships to those individuals.
Learn MoreWhen you contribute to the Medical, Educational & Development (MED) Foundation you are making an investment in the health and wellness of our community. Whatever the size of your gift, your contribution helps to ensure that Mercer Health can continue to provide quality, local health care. There are many ways that you can contribute to the future of healthcare in our community.
“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” – Winston Churchill
There is no better tribute to someone who has made an impact in your life than to make a difference in the lives of others in their name. A memorial gift is a gift made at the death of an individual in their name and honor. You may also make a gift in honor of a physician, nurse or another healthcare provider that touched your life through their care. The MED Foundation acknowledges all gifts received in this manner by sending a letter to the individual or next of kin with an accompanying list of all who donated in their memory of honor.
A donation to the MED Foundation of Mercer Health is a meaningful way to honor a loved one. Contact us to determine how to best honor your loved one.
The MED Foundation of Mercer Health is honored to accept charitable contributions in memorial of a recently departed loved one. Careful coordination will take place between the family, funeral home and our team.
Recognize a staff member by making a gift in their honor to the MED Foundation. The staff member will be notified of your thoughtful gift to the organization, however your gift amount will be held confidential.
For many people, this option provides great flexibility, security and peace of mind. A bequest for the MED Foundation in your will is a process easily accomplished in your estate planning. You may choose to inform the Foundation of your decision or keep your plans confidential. Some people combine their charitable interests with estate planning to create a trust that provides a lifetime income for them and their spouse, provides for heirs, creates estate tax savings, and results in a substantial gift for the MED Foundation and Mercer Health. Talk with your financial advisor or attorney about options in planning that will meet your needs.
What will your Legacy be?
As you plan for your future, you are making a number of important decisions. One of those carefully planned decisions may be to leave a legacy gift- a meaningful gift that will endure beyond your lifetime for the benefit of others- to a charitable organization like the MED Foundation of Mercer Health.
The motivation to give a legacy gift to Mercer Health comes from many places… gratitude for an exceptional experience, belief in a vision of loving-kindness, faith in a mission to ensure local, quality healthcare, or a desire to make a difference in the community by helping those in need.
Whatever your motivation, you can be assured that your legacy gift will impact the lives of future generations of children, families and seniors in our community who rely on Mercer Health to be here when needed.
One of the easiest, most meaningful and enduring legacy gifts is to include a bequest to the MED Foundation of Mercer Health in your will. By remembering Mercer Health in your will, you can impact your community’s healthcare in a way that endures far beyond your lifetime. This is one way that permits you to plan in the present to meet your own needs and those of your heirs, while investing in Mercer Health for future generations.
A bequest may be structured in a number of ways:
• A specific dollar amount or specific holding of your estate:
• A percentage of your estate;
• A portion or all of the remainder of your estate following the satisfaction of other bequests, or
• A combination of the above.
Planning your estate and legacy for future generations including your charitable interests takes careful evaluation. Consulting with the appropriate professionals can assist you. Discussing your charitable intentions with us can lead to a much better result than going it alone- and will ensure that your gift is used just as you wish. We can provide valuable information about creative giving techniques.
Act now to take the steps that you need to do to be a good steward of the resources you intend to leave behind. For additional information, contact:
The MED Foundation of Mercer Health
800 West Main Street
Coldwater, Ohio 45828
419-678-5679
dhemmelgarn@mercer-health.com
Gifts that last forever…
Our website contains general gift, estate, and financial planning information for educational purposes. It does not provide legal or tax advice. For advice or assistance on specific gifts and decisions please consult an attorney or other professional advisor.
These types of gifts are always welcomed by the Foundation and may provide the donor with substantial tax advantages. Talk with your financial advisor or attorney about the best way for you to make this type of gift.
The Friends of the Foundation are individuals who care about the health of the residents in our community and want to ensure the Mercer Health organization has the tools available to take care of our local healthcare needs by making annual donations.
The ongoing support of the Friends of the Foundation combined with the support of other members and businesses of the community will allow the MED Foundation to further its mission of enriching Mercer Health’s ability to enhance the healthcare within our community. As a community anchor, Mercer Health remains focused on setting the pace for health in our community by providing quality and compassionate health care services, quality employment and strong economic support to the local community.
Since 2009, the MED Foundation has selected an Outstanding Friend of the Year. This award can be presented to either an individual, family, organization or business who provides support to Mercer Health and/or the MED Foundation by generously offering their time, talent or treasure to help fulfill our mission.
Outstanding Friend award recipients:
** Charter Members
** Charter Members
** Charter Members
** Charter Members
The MED Foundation and Mercer Health express our appreciation and gratitude to the following individuals and organizations for their generous contributions to help Mercer Health fulfill its mission and vision to enhance the health care within our community.
Giving Tuesday is a global movement that was created to reimagine a world built upon shared humanity and generosity.
The MED Foundation collaborates year-round to inspire generosity in our community, with a common mission to build a world where generosity is part of everyday life.
Whether it’s making someone smile, helping a neighbor or stranger out, showing up for an issue or people we care about, or giving some of what we have to those who need our help, every act of generosity counts, and everyone has something to give.
Giving Tuesday is always the following Tuesday after Thanksgiving. Each year a specific project is selected for the funds to be used for.
Donate on Giving TuesdayPhilanthropy is based on voluntary action for the common good. It is a tradition of giving and sharing that is primary to the quality of life. To ensure that philanthropy merits the respect and trust of the public, and that donors and prospective donors can have full confidence in the nonprofit organizations and causes they are asked to support, we declare that all donors have these rights:
We believe our donors deserve to know how we operate. We PROMISE to provide the commitments listed here.
The Healing Garden at Mercer Health is a dedicated outdoor space designed to provide therapeutic benefits. With flowers, shrubs, a fountain and more, patients and their families will find a meaningful place of rest, relaxation and recovery. The Healing Garden is conveniently located directly outside of the atrium, near the south entrance.
At Mercer Health, we strongly believe a hospital’s surroundings can positively affect the mood, stress level and overall well-being of our patients and their families. In fact, clinical studies have found that viewing nature produces positive changes in a patient’s blood pressure, heart activity, muscle tension and brain activity. The Healing Garden at Mercer Health has been created with these benefits and healing effects of nature in mind.
We welcome your support of the Healing Garden. Your tribute ensures a timeless way to honor someone you love. Engraved pavers for the Healing Garden may be purchased by submitting a completed donation form to the MED Foundation. Other options such as trees or benches may be available upon request.
Barb’s Closet is a resource housed in the Emergency Department at Mercer Health offering clothing, basic care items and personal care items to patients.
Barb’s Closet was founded by a group of St. Henry natives and retired nurses – Betty Nietfeld, Ethel Kaiser, Jane Kleinhenz, Anita Hemmelgarn and Ann Beyke, in honor of their late friend Barb Huelsman.
Barb had a loving relationship with God and a deep prayer life. She had a heart of gold and dearly loved her family and friends. Sadly, Barb passed away on September 17, 2021. Barb was pure love and was constantly showing those around her how much she loved them. She was the spirit of kindness, giving and loving, and enriched many lives. Never wanting to draw attention to herself, she was always ready to help in any way she could.
Barb’s Closet is the result of the efforts to continue Barb’s labor of love, of helping others in need. If you would like to support Barb’s Closet by making a tax deductible monetary donation, please send via mail to the MED Foundation, 800 W. Main Street Coldwater, Ohio 45828 and designate to Barb’s Closet.
December 15, 1988 – The Medical, Educational and Development Foundation (MED Foundation) of Mercer Health held its first Board meeting. The organization was established by a group of community leaders and hospital administration, to provide for enhancements and for educational support for the future of health care services within our community.
March 9, 1989 – A slate of officers were established for the MED Foundation.
1992 – The MED Foundation Board of Directors made a commitment to provide one $500 scholarship to a graduating student from each of the schools in Mercer County who planned to pursue a career in a Health Care field with hopes they return to provide care to the residents of Mercer County.
1993 – The MED Foundation Golf Outing began as a fundraiser for the Scholarship Program. The golf outings have been held every year as the primary support for the Scholarships.
1997 – The Golf Outing was renamed to the “Esmonde-Homan Memorial Golf Outing” in memory of MED Foundation Board Members and volunteers who lost their lives in 1996 following a fundraiser event for the Foundation; Ken Esmonde Sr., Chloe Esmonde, Ken Esmonde Jr.
2008 – The MED Foundation and Mercer Health determined they needed a person to manage the functions of the MED Foundation and move the activities of the foundation forward. John Hoying was hired as the Development Director of Mercer Health. The part-time position started in August and after reviewing the structure of the organization the MED Foundation took on new activities.
2008 – The MED Foundation began the “Friends of the MED Foundation” to support the activities of Mercer Health and to cultivate philanthropic relationships that enhance Mercer Health’s ability to fulfill its mission and vision. The “Friends” are individuals who care about the health of the residents in our community and want to ensure the Mercer Health organization has the tools available to take care of our local healthcare needs.
2012 – The Memorial Walkway was established to recognize and memorialize family and friends of the Mercer Health organization. A Dedication Ceremony is held annually or bi-annually for new pavers.
2013 – The Donor Recognition Wall was established in the Outpatient Services Waiting Area at Mercer Health due to the generosity of donors.
2014 – The former Annex Building was memorialized, which originally housed the nuns operating Our Lady of Mercy Hospital, now known as Mercer Health, with a monument near the West Entrance of Mercer County Community Hospital. The cross on the monument originated from the front of the Annex. The memorial was made possible due to the generosity of a dedicated donor.
2014 – Deb Hemmelgarn begins as the Director of MED Foundation, and in 2021 becomes Director of MED Foundation & Volunteer Services.
2015 – The Mercer Health Charity Ball was reinstated along with a Corvette Raffle. A Charity Ball coordinated by the Mercer County Community Hospital Auxiliary took place from 1950 to the early 1990’s when the Auxiliary organization dissolved. In 2015, the MED Foundation and the Charity Ball Committee not only reinstated the popular fundraiser but also added a Corvette Raffle.
2016-2018 – The Building on a Promise campaign raised $6 million through the generosity of community members and local businesses for the Sanderell Family West Wing expansion that opened on October 22, 2018.
2018 – The Memorial Walkway was renamed to The Healing Garden at Mercer Health and relocated to outside of the atrium, near the South entrance.
2021 – The first annual Giving Tuesday Campaign was held which is part of a global movement that reimagines a world built upon shared humanity and generosity.
2023 – Barb’s Closet, a resource housed in the Emergency Department at Mercer Health offering clothing, basic care items and personal care items to patients, was founded by a group of St. Henry natives in honor of their late friend Barb Huelsman.
The Mission of the Medical, Educational & Development (MED) Foundation is to cultivate philanthropic relationships that enhance Mercer Health’s ability to fulfill its mission and vision.
To provide the tools for our Donors to contribute to the Medical, Educational & Development (MED) Foundation and enjoy the financial, educational and emotional fulfillment for enhancement of health care within our community.
Board of Governors Representatives
The Medical, Educational and Development Foundation is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Contributions to the MED Foundation are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
MED Foundation