Saint Mary's Foundation

A huge thank you to our amazing partners at Gold Coast Doulas LLC for their generous gift in support of Clínica Santa María’s Centering Pregnancy and Maternal Infant Health programs. Your continued support is making a lasting difference in the lives of mothers and families in our community. We are incredibly grateful!

Happy Anniversary to Michelle Rabideau!

Today marks Michelle's 23rd anniversary with Saint Mary’s Foundation! When asked what she loves about her work, Michelle shared, “As I celebrate my anniversary at Saint Mary’s Foundation, I am filled with immense pride and gratitude. The continued success and impact we make every day is a testament to the unwavering support and commitment of our family of supporters, our team, and our community partners. Together, we have achieved remarkable milestones and improved countless lives. Let’s keep it up!”

Thank you, Michelle, for your inspiring leadership. Here’s to many more years ahead!

🎒 Back-to-School Success! 📚✏️

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our Trinity Health Grand Rapids colleagues, up next alumni and community partners, kids in our community were well-prepared for their first day of school!

Throughout July and August, we collected hundreds of backpacks and school supplies. These essential items were distributed to patients at Trinity Health Medical Group's community-based offices at Browning Claytor, Clinica Santa Maria, and Sparta.

A huge thank you to our amazing community of supporters for coming together to make this possible. Your kindness has made a lasting impact on the lives of children in our community. 💙

Raise a Glass to 60 Years of Saint Mary's Foundation! 🍾

For six decades, we've been dedicated to making a lasting difference in the health of our community, and now it's time to celebrate! Join us on Thursday, September 12, 2024, for a special happy hour celebration as we mark this incredible milestone together.

Don’t miss out—secure your tickets today!
Learn more and get your tickets here:

60th Anniversary - Saint Mary's Foundation Grand Rapids Vine & Vinyl is back and in-person! Join us on Tuesday, April 18, 2023 at 5:30 pm for a storytelling experience with a curated meal paired with wine (and other specialty beverages) and a unique soundtrack.

We are thrilled to welcome Kim McLaughlin, Vice President of Strategic Growth at Wolverine Building Group, as the new Saint Mary’s Foundation Board Chair!

Kim is the ultimate connector and brings a wealth of experience in building relationships and inspiring support from the community. She is committed to driving our mission forward, ensuring that we continue to make a meaningful impact in the lives of those we serve.

Congratulations, Kim! We’re excited for the journey ahead!

August is National Make a Will Month!

Have you created your will yet? It's never too early to plan for the future and ensure that your wishes are honored.

At Saint Mary’s Foundation, we understand the importance of thoughtful planning. Consider including Saint Mary’s Foundation as part of your plans and leave a lasting legacy of care and compassion at Trinity Health Grand Rapids.

Your generosity can make a difference for generations to come.

To learn more about how to include Saint Mary's Foundation in your will, please contact Cathy Skene at [email protected] or at 616-685-1484.

A grateful farewell to our Board Chair, Scott Breslin.

Thank you, Scott! We want to express our deepest gratitude for your exceptional leadership and dedication as Saint Mary’s Foundation Board Chair. Your guidance has made a lasting impact, and we are incredibly thankful for your service. Your legacy will continue to inspire us as we move forward.

When we asked Scott what he loved most about serving on the Saint Mary’s Foundation Board of Trustees, he said, “My service with Saint Mary’s Foundation did so much more for me and my family than I ever imagined. Over a decade ago, when I was offered the chance to learn about Trinity Health/Saint Mary’s through the Up Next program, my eyes were opened to the practice of medicine through a faith-based healthcare model: love combined with a commitment to world-class medical expertise, delivered to the patient with compassion and empathy. We have multiple options for medical care, but what is the difference between our options? My experiences with Saint Mary’s Foundation and seeing firsthand the difference is what I truly enjoyed most about serving on this board.”

A heartfelt thank you to Tammy Bailey for her outstanding service on the Saint Mary’s Foundation Board of Trustees. Her passion and commitment have been a guiding force, and we are deeply grateful for her contributions. When we asked Tammy what she loved most about serving on the board, she shared, “The most rewarding part of my time as a Foundation Board Member was seeing firsthand the impact that donor contributions have in improving the patient experience at Trinity Health Grand Rapids. The outreach and communication between the Foundation and hospital staff to bring forward life-changing opportunities for Grant Committee consideration is truly impressive.”

Saint Mary's Foundation is turning 60! 🎉

Join us on Thursday, September 12, 2024, for a special happy hour celebration as we commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the Saint Mary’s Foundation. This event will highlight the remarkable impact we've made together over the past six decades.

For more information and tickets, please visit https://giving.trinityhealthmichigan.org/SaintMarysFoundation/anniversary.

🎉 What a fantastic way to celebrate an outstanding fiscal year! 🎉

Last week, the Saint Mary’s Foundation team had the opportunity to come together and enjoy a summer concert at Frederick Meijer Gardens. It was an evening filled with great music, wonderful company, a little rain, and a lot of joy. We're incredibly proud of all we've accomplished this past year, and this celebration was the perfect way to recognize everyone's hard work and dedication.

Thank you to our family of supporters, volunteers, and everyone who has been a part of our journey! We are truly grateful for your support.

Congratulations to the Up Next Class of 2024! We are truly grateful for each of you – thank you for committing your time and energy into the program to learn more about Trinity Health Grand Rapids.

2024 up next class:
• Derek Damstra, CareLinc Medical Equipment & Supply
• Chelsea Fowler, Rockford Construction
• Sonny Hoogendoorn, Meijer
• Veronica Mascorro, Hispanic Center of Western Michigan
• Nikki Nordfjord, Custer, Inc.
• Andrew Otten, Legacy Trust
• Tom Short, Progressive AE
• Shelley Skinner, Genentech USA, Inc.

Up Next is a program planned to inform and engage emerging community leaders about the work we are doing at Trinity Health Grand Rapids, so that they can decide if they would like to be a part of our future volunteer leadership. The program consists of five half-day sessions giving an insider’s view of how Trinity Health Grand Rapids fulfills its mission of improving the health of our community.

To learn more about the program, please email [email protected].

Happy 4th of July!

Today, we celebrate freedom, community, and the incredible strength of our healthcare heroes. From all of us at Saint Mary's Foundation, we wish you a safe and joyful Independence Day!

Please join us throughout the month of July as we collect school supplies for our three community-based offices: Browning Claytor, Clínica Santa María, and Sparta.

Interested in supporting with a donation? Please visit https://bit.ly/3xyWUgm.

On June 14, a celebration honoring what would have been Sr. Rosita Schiller’s 88th birthday was held at Saint Mary’s Foundation. Schiller family members and Trinity Health colleagues shared memories and celebrated the significant impact that Sr. Rosita had on our organization and those we serve. Rosemary Byrne, her sister, presented Saint Mary’s Foundation with a $30,000 gift to establish the Sr. Rosita Schiller Endowment Fund for Community Health & Well-Being. The fund will support the priorities of Community Health & Well-Being at Trinity Health Grand Rapids and those programs that care for the underserved including but not limited to our health care clinics (Browning Claytor, Clinica Santa Maria and Sparta Health), our McAuley Clinic, or other programming developed to focus on removing barriers to care for all.

This morning, we were proud to recognize our Care Champions with a special breakfast. Our Grateful Patients & Families Program gives patients and their families the opportunity to recognize those who have made a special impact while receiving care at Trinity Health Grand Rapids. Over the last year, a gift was made in their honor for the compassionate care these healthcare heroes provided.

Congratulations to the following Care Champions. We appreciate your passion and dedication to exemplify our mission of healing mind, body and spirit.

William Ahrens, MD
Lara Baatenburg, MD
Joanna Bailey
Matt Biersack, MD
Frances Chames, MD
Hannah Charity, RN
Neil Colegrove, MD
Baljit Deol, MD
Gerald Durfee, MD
Kevin Foley, MD
Thomas Gribbin, MD
MaKenzie Gruszka, RN
Madhuri Kakarala, MD
Ryan Kelting, MD
Peter Lenhart, MD
Vinayak Manohar, MD
Kendra Norton, RN
James Passinault, MD
Joel Phillips, DO
Fredric Reyelts, MD
Mohammad Saleh, MD
Ashley Screws, MD
Amelie Stearns, RN
Kayla Tolhurst, RN
Tanya Vreeke, DO
Terrence Wright, MD
Alan Young, MD
Nathan Ziegler, MD
Kidney Transplant Team
NICU Team
Sophia's House Team

Today marks the 12 Year Anniversary of Sophia’s House! The thoughtful support from our family of supporters contributed to the opening of Sophia's House on June 4th, 2012. Sophia's House is our guest house designed to serve the needs of patients and their families while they receive treatment at Trinity Health Grand Rapids. Happy Anniversary Sophia's House!

Yesterday, the Saint Mary’s Foundation hosted a special luncheon for the Trinity Health Grand Rapids emeritus physicians and nurses. This esteemed group, though retired, remains actively engaged with Trinity Health Grand Rapids. Guests enjoyed insightful updates from Dr. Matt Biersack, President; Michelle Peña, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, Chief Nursing Officer; and Dr. Brandon Francis, Chief Medical Officer. It was a wonderful opportunity to reconnect!

We are excited to welcome Brynn as our new intern for Trinity Health Volunteer Services & Saint Mary’s Foundation! When asked what she’s most excited to learn about during her internship, Brynn said, "During this internship, I am thrilled to contribute to the positive impact that the Saint Mary’s Foundation has on Trinity Health and the community. I look forward to incorporating the values held by the Saint Mary’s Foundation into my internship and the remainder of my professional career. I eagerly anticipate building meaningful relationships and expressing my appreciation to the many incredible donors and volunteers.”

Brynn – we are thrilled to have you on the team this semester!

Happy National Health Care Week! This week, we celebrate our healthcare heroes! From the doctors and nurses to the technicians and administrators, thank you for your unwavering dedication to the well-being of our communities. We are honored to support your incredible work. Your compassion, expertise, and resilience inspire us every day.

Please join us in recognizing and honoring the incredible contributions of our healthcare professionals. They truly are the heartbeat of our community! 💜

Happy National Nurses Week! 🩺💙
To the heartbeat of healthcare, the unsung heroes of healing, and the compassionate souls who make a difference every single day: THANK YOU! Your dedication and selflessness inspire us every day. 🌟

Happy National Nurses Week to all our incredible nurses! 🩺💙 This week, and every week, we celebrate your unwavering dedication, compassion, and tireless commitment to caring for others. Your selflessness and resilience inspire us all. Thank you the countless lives you touch every single day. We are endlessly grateful for everything you do!

Yesterday we celebrated our Trinity Health Grand Rapids volunteers with an appreciation luncheon. We have amazing volunteers that provide compassionate care every day, extending the mission of Trinity Health Grand Rapids to every patient we serve. We could not do this important work without them!

Today we are celebrating Courtney’s 14th Anniversary with Saint Mary's Foundation! When asked what she loves about her job, Courtney said, "I am fortunate to have the opportunity to work in philanthropy and help serve our community. It is an honor to provide support to our patients, families and donors, while being a member of an amazing team and organization!” Happy Anniversary Courtney!

It is with a heavy heart that Saint Mary's Foundation mourns the passing of Sr. M. Rosita Schiller, RSM, PhD.

At age 16, Rosita Schiller joined the Sisters of Mercy, an order of Catholic nuns dedicated to service. She graduated with her bachelor's degree from Mercy College of Detroit and went on to receive her master's degree from Michigan State University and her Ph.D. from The Ohio State University in 1972.

Pursuing a career in dietetics and education, she spent 25 years at Ohio State University as Professor and Director of Medical Dietetics, authoring or co-authoring more than 60 articles and books. As a professor Emeritus, she also served on the board of The Ohio State Alumni Club of West Michigan.

For the past 21 years, Sr. Rosita has worked as a senior grants and research specialist for Saint Mary’s Foundation. She raised more than $15 million for our most vulnerable patients during her tenure at Trinity Health Grand Rapids.

Remaining active her entire life, she sat on the Trinity Health Nutrition Advisory Council, promoted child literacy through Trinity Health Grand Rapids’ Reach Out and Read program, served on the hospital's governing board of trustees where she chaired the Quality Committee and Community Health & Well-Being committee. Many Grand Rapidians would recognize her as a regular reader for Sunday Televised Mass at the Cathedral of Saint Andrew.

Sr. Rosita was a familiar face on the Trinity Health Grand Rapids campus and approached her work the way she approached everyone she met — with joy and enthusiasm. She was the embodiment of a true servant leader, and she inspired all with her great wisdom, wit, compassionate heart, and strong faith and spirituality.

Sr. Rosita passed away on April 17, 2024, at age 87. Forever in our hearts.

Happy National Volunteer Week to our amazing volunteers! This week we are celebrating our Trinity Health Grand Rapids volunteers and showing our appreciation for the amazing work that they do!

🌷✨ Spring has sprung, and so have brand new arrivals at The Shoppe, a program of Saint Mary’s Foundation! 🌼 Visit The Shoppe in the main lobby of Trinity Health Grand Rapids anytime during the hours listed below.

Monday – Friday: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Closed weekends and holidays.

We are thrilled to introduce our newest Guest Artist, Patti Sevensma, who will be part of the Guest Artist Series at Trinity Health Grand Rapids! Patti's artwork will be displayed in the Trinity Health Saint Mary's hospital main lobby through June.

Patti grew up along the coast of Lake Michigan and has always been fascinated by wind, waves, and water. It's evident how much the lake has influenced her work. When asked about her artistic voice, Patti said, “I am fearless when it comes to trying a new technique or approach. I am an experimental artist. That freedom is an invaluable part of my art and of my life.” In addition, Patti currently sits as President on the Board of Directors for the International Society of Experimental Artists.

Please join us in welcoming Patti!

🎉 Happy Doctors' Day! 🩺 Today is a special day dedicated to celebrating the incredible dedication and compassion of our doctors. They work tirelessly to care for us, our loved ones, and our community.

Join us in showing appreciation for their hard work and commitment by giving a gift. Your contribution stays local, making a direct impact on our Trinity Health Grand Rapids community.

Let's come together to honor our doctors and express our gratitude for all they do! 🌟

https://bit.ly/3INSdkR

In just a few days, our Trinity Health Grand Rapids community will unite for Doctors’ Day! There’s no better time to say thank you to our extraordinary caregivers for their incredible work.

If a physician at Trinity Health Grand Rapids went the extra mile for you or a loved one, will you thank them today with a special gift? https://bit.ly/3INSdkR

When you give, please leave a message for your physician in the comments. Our Foundation shares every single message and story with doctors — letting them know of the lasting impact they have made.

Plan your own fundraiser! A third-party fundraiser is an event or activity that is entirely volunteer-driven and benefits a designated program at Trinity Health Grand Rapids. There are many creative ways to give including percentage of sales, sporting events, donation drives, birthday fundraisers, bake sales – the options are endless!

Interested in learning more about hosting a third-party fundraiser? Please email [email protected] for more information.