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$2.5 million gift largest in foundation's history

03 / 21 / 2007

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OSHKOSH, Wis. – The $2.5 million donation by Dr. Theresa Cheng to the Mercy Health Foundation is the largest gift in the foundation’s history.

“We consider it a privilege to partner with Dr. Cheng to fulfill her philanthropy goals and personal mission,” said Vicki Schorse, executive director of the Mercy Health Foundation. “Her generosity of wealth and spirit will enable us to advance an already excellent neurosurgery program at Affinity Medical Center and extend a helping hand to more needy people.

Cheng, an Affinity Health System neurosurgeon, announced Wednesday she is donating $2.5 million to create the Dr. Theresa M. Cheng Endowment for Medical Excellence and Compassion. Affinity and the Mercy Health Foundation has established the Dr. Theresa M. Cheng Endowed Clinical Chair of Neurological Surgery.

“This gift is an indicator of a new era in philanthropy for the foundation, where donors not only want to invest in a good cause, but engage with the organization and its mission,” Schorse says. “We feel very blessed and humbled by our friendship and partnership with Dr. Cheng. She is a remarkable woman with extraordinary humanitarian vision.”

Started in 1971, the Mercy Health Foundation has helped fund projects that promote health and well-being in Northeast Wisconsin. The majority of funds contributed by donors help to advance the programs and mission of Affinity Mercy Medical Center and Affinity Health System. In addition, the foundation has partnered with Mercy, Affinity and other community organizations to establish the Living Healthy Community Clinic in Oshkosh to serve uninsured people, and to create Parent Connection, a regional first-time parent support program designed to prevent child abuse and neglect.

The mission of the Mercy Health Foundation is to live out the healing ministry of Christ by collecting and distributing charitable funds to enhance Affinity Health System services, programs and community health care initiatives in Northeast Wisconsin.

“Health and health care are a concern of every person in our communities,” Schorse says. “The times call for creative and effective ideas and solutions. We want to help people who share our commitment to excellent health care for all to connect their philanthropy with Mercy and Affinity in meaningful ways.

“Dr. Cheng has provided this generous, breakthrough gift that will hopefully get others thinking about what they can do to be a person who makes a big difference in local health care,” Schorse says.

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For the Editor:
Affinity Health System, a Catholic mission-oriented regional health care network, is a partnership of Ministry Health Care and Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare. Affinity Health System is the Fox Valley’s third largest employer, according to the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce & Industry, and is ranked 24 among the top 100 integrated health care networks nationwide (Verispan 2008). Both St. Elizabeth Hospital in Appleton and Mercy Medical Center in Oshkosh rank among the top 1 percent among hospitals nationwide in terms of quality and efficiency, as determined by the 2007 Premier | CareScience Select practice National Quality Award. Network Health Plan has achieved Excellent accreditation status from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), the highest possible level. It is ranked 37th among the 250 rated health plans in the nation in terms of customer satisfaction and clinical performance, according to the U.S. News and World Report/NCQA Best Health Plans in America listing. Members of Affinity include Mercy Medical Center and Mercy Health Foundation, Oshkosh; St. Elizabeth Hospital and the St. Elizabeth Hospital Community Foundation, Appleton; Affinity Medical Group, a regional network of 23 family practice and specialty clinics in 13 communities; Calumet Medical Center, Chilton; Network Health Plan, Menasha; and Affinity Occupational Health.