Southeast

Together we can touch more lives. Save more lives.
And improve more lives.

FEATURED

Mercy Health Foundation Southeast

Click below to discover more about upcoming initiatives that will positively impact your community.

FEATURED

Mercy Health Foundation Southeast

Click below to discover more about upcoming initiatives that will positively impact your community.

See what we've accomplished in the past 5 years

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Over $183,000 in scholarships to individuals seeking a career in health care

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Over $147K has been raised to provide advanced technologies and services that enhance cardiovascular care in our region.

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Over $708,000 has provided early diagnostics and support for patients during their cancer journey

Who We Are

If you have any questions or would like more information about how your donations will be utilized within this new collaborative framework, please contact Darah Jirkovsky at [email protected]  or call 573.519.4920.

Mercy Health Foundation Southeast is a nonprofit organization that provides philanthropic support for Mercy Hospital Southeast, formerly SoutheastHEALTH. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we can extend Mercy Hospital Southeast’s healing ministry even further in our community, ensuring that high-quality, compassionate care is accessible to all those we serve.

The health care needs of our community will always outpace our resources. Your support will remain local and touch the lives of your family, friends and neighbors right here in Southeast Missouri. When you choose to invest in Mercy Health Foundation, you make a lasting impact by enhancing patient programs, funding life-saving equipment and providing support for those who need it most. 

A Message to Our Supporters

Together, we can create a brighter, healthier future for our community. The generosity of our donors is at the heart of everything we do. And now, as part of Mercy, we’re steadfast in our efforts to improve health care in Southeast Missouri, together.

Our name has changed, but our commitment to Southeast Missouri remains the same. Rest assured, all gifts received will continue to support the health care initiatives and programs that matter most to our donors. And, all donations will stay in Southeast Missouri, ensuring that your contributions have a lasting impact right here at home.

Thank you for your continued support!

Our Focus

Cancer Care

We are committed to bringing more technology, more hope and more reasons to give to the Mercy Cancer Center – equipping patients and their loved ones to fight back like never before. Our comprehensive approach to cancer care and investments in Mercy’s cancer care delivery will ensure every patient in Southeast Missouri will have access to advanced diagnostic capabilities, therapies, leading-edge treatments and compassionate care, close to home.

Our Cancer Care fund enhances the services offered to Mercy’s cancer patients and their families and helps support the screening and diagnostic procedures of uninsured and underinsured patients.

Heart Care

Join us in our mission to champion heart health in Southeast Missouri. As a leader in our region, Mercy’s dedicated cardiovascular physicians are treating the most challenging heart conditions while keeping patients close to home. But they can’t do it alone.

Support of this essential initiative will help fund technology-driven programs and enable Mercy to offer patients in Southeast Missouri the most advanced diagnostic equipment and the highest standard of compassionate care.

You can make a profound impact on the lives of those battling heart conditions. Together, we can make a difference that lasts a lifetime.

Our Funds

Your contribution to the Area of Greatest Need fund supports the unique health care needs of your community whenever they arise. This fund enables Mercy to respond swiftly to emerging needs. Whether it’s funding vital medical equipment, supporting patient assistance programs, or advancing health care initiatives, your contribution makes a tangible difference where it’s needed most.

Your support can provide moments of normalcy and joy in each patient’s cancer journey. The Cancer Care fund provides for the special needs of patients who are battling cancer, right here, close to home. With your help, Mercy Health Foundation Southeast can continue to invest in bringing the latest technologies, treatments and programs to improve cancer care in our community. This fund also provides essential services for patients in need, including transportation, lodging, nutritional supplements and medication assistance.

Mercy Health Foundation’s HeartStrong fund provides advanced technologies and services that enhance cardiovascular care in our region. Mercy Southeast’s top-ranked team of cardiologists diagnoses and treats many heart conditions, including rare and complex disorders. In addition to providing funds for innovative treatment options and advanced diagnostic equipment, the HeartStrong Fund provides scales and pedometers for low-income congestive heart failure patients to better monitor their treatment during cardiac rehabilitation.

At the Mercy Southeast Diabetes Center, counseling and education opportunities are made available for adults, teens and children living with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, prediabetes or gestational diabetes through our Strides for Diabetes fund. We are committed to helping individuals and their families gain the skills and knowledge needed to manage their diabetes and live life to its fullest.

Camp DAY (Diabetes and Youth) Break for children with diabetes combines summer fun with an opportunity to connect with and learn from the experiences of other children and teen volunteers with diabetes. The program emphasizes the importance of self-care and disease management to improve their quality of life. Knowledge about self-management and the practice of self-care skills promote competency and confidence.

Family, friends and educators can play a pivotal role in diabetes management. Support of this fund ensures that these specialized educational programs continue to be accessible in the region.

Southeast Hospice offers compassionate care tailored for those in the final stages of a terminal illness. Support of the Hospice Grace fund provides expert pain management and symptom control, as well as spiritual and emotional care for patients and their loved ones.

Thanks to donor support, Hospice services are provided regardless of the patient’s financial status. This fund also provides utility assistance, medications, transportation, housing and more for patients in need.

Every year, Mercy Hospital Southeast provides over $7 million in charity care to our patients.

Mercy understands that patients may encounter financial hardships during their health care journeys. The Regional Patient Care fund provides financial support and assistance for low-income patients in southeast Missouri. This fund improves the lives of patients by ensuring they can receive the health care services they need including assistance with transportation, lodging, medication, patient equipment needs and more.

This fund helps to prepare nurses, x-ray technologists, operating room technologists, and the laboratory technologists of tomorrow.  Scholarship opportunities as well as other needs that arise at the college of nursing are supported through generous donations. Specific scholarships are available for the college of nursing students and can be supported through this fund.

Upcoming Events

Join us as we celebrate the holiday season!!

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Polish your crowns, prepare your finest attire, and join us as we dine like kings and queens! Mercy Health Foundation Southeast’s 2025 Journey Gala will be inspired by the best of London.

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Join us for our annual Wine and Chocolate event. Purchase a raffle ticket for a chance to win a beautiful 1.93 carat round diamond set in a 14K yellow gold four-prong pendant.

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Scholarships

Through the generosity of the Mercy Health Foundation Southeast, scholarship opportunities are available for students involved in direct patient care. Preference will be given to students enrolled in programs within the Mercy service region. Recipients will not be required to serve any period of time in employment with Mercy upon graduation.

Mercy Health Foundation Southeast offer many scholarship opportunities each year. These scholarships are funded historically through the generosity of donors. The number of Foundation scholarships awarded each year will be determined subject to availability of funding. Only one complete application is needed to apply for Foundation scholarships. Scholarship applications may be submitted Feb. 6 to May 31.

Mercy Foundation would like to offer a sincere thank-you to all donors who have supported healthcare students throughout the years. If you or your family would like to offer a scholarship to students entering the health care field, please contact Mercy Health Foundation Southeast at 573.519.4920 or [email protected].

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Mercy Health Foundation Southeast has a number of scholarship opportunities for healthcare students involved in direct patient care.

Mercy Health Foundation Southeast Auxiliary and Mercy Health Foundation Southeast Foundation offer many scholarship opportunities each year, which are funded historically through the generosity of donors.

There are many ways to fund a scholarship. If you or your family would like to offer a scholarship to students entering the healthcare field, please contact Mercy Health Foundation Southeast at 573.519.4920 or [email protected].

Mercy Health Foundation Southeast Auxiliary and Foundation would like to offer a sincere thank-you to donors who have supported healthcare students throughout the years and for years to come.

Every year Mercy Health Foundation Southeast provides over $7 million in charity care to our region.

At Mercy Health Foundation Southeast our nurses, physicians, and social workers are made aware of the great financial challenges some of our patients are faced with when under their care. The Patient Care Fund provides a wide array of financial assistance to low-income patients by addressing their most pressing needs. The Patient Care Fund may provide medication, transportation or housing, or cover utility costs, for our patients in need.

The Response and Recovery Fund was created to support and improve the health and social welfare of Mercy Health Foundation Southeast employees, first responders, and at-risk patients by meeting short- and long-term public health, medical and social service needs. SoutheastHEALTH Foundation has agreed to partner with local first responders, EMS, and fire, rescue, and police departments as their needs arise. One hundred percent of donations will remain local.

Donors can give online or text RRF2020 to 243725 to give securely through One Cause.

The Response and Recovery Fund was created to support and improve the health and social welfare of Mercy Health Foundation Southeast employees, first responders, and at-risk patients by meeting short- and long-term public health, medical and social service needs. SoutheastHEALTH Foundation has agreed to partner with local first responders, EMS, and fire, rescue, and police departments as their needs arise. One hundred percent of donations will remain local.

Donors can give online or text RRF2020 to 243725 to give securely through One Cause.

Annual Reports

Thank you for your generous support and partnership as we continue to carry out Mercy’s mission in the communities we serve.

Southeast Staff and Board of Directors

Foundation Staff

Darah Jirkovsky

Executive Director

Kathryn Howell

Grant Development Manager

Vickie Hoernig

Senior Foundation Coordinator

Shelby Bentley

Senior Development Officer

Board Members

Curt BuchHeit

Chair

Tom Kiefner

Vice Chair

Kyle Thompson

Treasurer

Amanda Baert

Ken Bateman

Rick Blattner

Paul E. Findlay

Jennifer Icaza-Gast

DR. Joseph Miller

Mike Ochs

Dr. Adelaide Parsons

Terri Penrod

Pete Poe

Patty Schaefer

Joe Uzoaru

Contact Mercy Health Foundation Southeast

Mercy Health Foundation Southeast
1849 Broadway
Cape Girardeau, MO 63701

Mercy Health Foundation
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