Mercy Foundation recently received a gift of more than $2.5 million from the estate of Helene and Robert Hoffmann. In recognition of the gift, Mercy will name the pediatric emergency department at Mercy Children’s Hospital, “The Helene and Robert Hoffmann Pediatric Emergency Department.” More than 22,000 children will be seen in the Helene and Robert Hoffmann Pediatric Emergency Department at Mercy Children’s Hospital this year, the only pediatric emergency department in St. Louis and St. Charles Counties with 24 hour coverage by pediatricians and pediatric nursing staff.
“We are grateful for people like the Hoffmanns who include Mercy in their estate planning,” said Patty Arnold, president of Mercy Foundation. “With their gift we are able to ensure that additional people receive the compassionate care they need.”
The Hoffmanns had been generous donors to Mercy Foundation since 2001. Mr. Hoffmann, who worked in the Mercy Medical Center maintenance department for more than 15 years, died in 2001 leaving his estate to his wife. In 2002, Mrs. Hoffmann gave a $250,000 gift to Mercy to name the entrance of the Mercy Child Development Center in her husband’s memory. She chose the Child Development Center because her husband spoke so highly of the department and had a fondness for children; the couple never had children of their own.
In 2009, Mrs. Hoffmann passed away leaving the entire Hoffmann Estate to Mercy Foundation in the form of a trust, with a request for a naming opportunity on the Mercy Medical Center campus. Fundraising is ongoing for Mercy Children’s Hospital and other naming opportunities are available.
