Deaconess Foundation

09/02/2026

What a fantastic day welcoming the newest members of the Deaconess team! Please welcome our Comfort Crew: Chance - Director of Pawsitivity, Jade - Chief Comfort Officer (both funded by Deaconess Foundation) & Bentley - Director of Paws (funded by Deaconess Memorial Foundation). Our pups come from a specialty breeder to make sure they are trained to hospital standards and ready to take on their job responsibilities.
A huge thank you to Alan & Sharon Braun and the Braun Family Foundation, who graciously funded the launch of the Comfort Crew Pet Therapy Program.
When donors partner with us, Deaconess Foundation can fund grants that create lasting change. We are so excited to launch our Comfort Crew Pet Therapy Program and look forward to the pawsitive impact it will have across Deaconess.

08/28/2026

With the annual Party of the Year less than a month away, we're revisiting some royal times! The 2023 POTY "Royal Ball" raised over $250,000 for the Deaconess Scholarship Fund. Over the years, Party of the Year has been one of our most successful fundraising nights each year because of generous donors just like you! Want to get involved? There are still a few sponsorships open for the 2026 POTY "Believe" to support advanced cancer care close to home. Visit www.deaconess.com/party to snag one of the last few spots!

08/27/2026

A huge thank you to Green River Kiwanis for inviting Linda E. White to share about the new Deaconess Cinelli Cancer Center. The Cinelli Cancer Center is more than a building - it is a space dedicated to healing and hope for our community. Thank you again to the Green River Kiwanis and to so many others who are making this dream a reality!

08/25/2026

Andrea G., Deaconess Hospital Quality Manager, applied for a grant to better serve patients who have been diagnosed with heart failure. Through this funding, patients who may not be able to afford a scale can now receive one—giving them a simple but powerful tool to monitor their condition at home.

Individuals living with heart failure are at a higher risk of fluid retention; small changes in sodium or water intake can greatly affect their body’s ability to get rid of excess fluid. A sudden change of as little as two pounds can signal an abnormal buildup of fluid that requires immediate attention.

Daily weight monitoring allows patients, alongside their provider, to catch these changes early and make timely adjustments—helping reduce complications and avoid hospital readmissions.

Thank you to our donors who faithfully support the Cardiology Fund, and thank you to Andrea and her team for bringing the Deaconess Difference to life each day. Pictured: Shay G., Clinical Access Operations Supervisor.

08/21/2026

You're invited to the 3rd Annual Breast Friends Survivor Walk! 💗

Join us for a morning dedicated to celebrating strength, honoring survivorship and supporting everyone whose life has been touched by breast cancer. Whether you're walking as a survivor, alongside a loved one or in support of the cause, your participation helps make this event truly meaningful.

🗓 Saturday, September 26
🕙 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM CT
📍 Deaconess Sports Park

Enjoy a family-friendly event featuring:
💗 A 1-mile survivor walk
💗 Survivor recognition
💗 Food trucks
💗 Vendor fair
💗 Family activities
💗 Prizes for the largest and most spirited teams

Together, we'll celebrate hope, encourage one another and remind every survivor that they never walk alone.

Register today:

Join us for the Breast Friends Survivor Walk, an annual event where survivors, families, friends, and supporters can walk to honor the journey of those affected by breast cancer.

08/21/2026

With the Deaconess Union County Golf Scramble right around the corner, we look back on the impact of last year's event!

Thanks to the generosity of players and sponsors, Deaconess Union County Hospital was able to fund a new Tran-Sit Car Transfer Simulator. This simulator continues to impact patients and families engaging in one of the most common post-stay activities – transferring to and from a vehicle.

“This innovative training tool allows patients, families and care teams to safely practice transfers in a supportive, clinical setting, which builds confidence prior to the first ride home or to a doctor's appointment," Jessica Sheffer, RN, said.

Interested in participating in the Union County Golf Scramble to support upcoming projects? Register today! www.deaconess.com/duch-golf-scramble

08/14/2026

Deaconess Foundation is proud to sponsor fun projects such as the slushy machine in our pediatric unit! This machine, operated by our expert Slushy Scientists, helps keep children hydrated and gives them something to look forward to while they are in our hospital.

07/31/2026

Deaconess Foundation is proud to fund initiatives that directly impact our patient care teams such as the Peace Pod. This grant, while representing a small impact that philanthropy has in healthcare, reminds us that quality healthcare is provided by a quality team. Thank you to those who give to these initiatives and thank you to the Neuro ICU team for being exceptional!

07/29/2026

Deaconess Foundation is proud to support and congratulate our 2026 Imaging Scholarship recipients! Deaconess Foundation is able to fulfill these scholarships because of the generosity of our donors. Interested in giving toward scholarships? Visit www.deaconess.com/give

07/28/2026

BIG NEWS!
A new chapter for healthcare in Southern Illinois has begun.
We're thrilled to announce the launch of the Deaconess Illinois Foundation!
This Foundation gives our communities a powerful new way to make a lasting impact—supporting patients, caregivers and the future of healthcare across Southern Illinois. Every gift stays local, helping strengthen the hospitals and communities we proudly serve in Illinois.
This is just the beginning, and we can't wait to share what's ahead.
Read the full announcement below! ⬇️

Deaconess Illinois has announced the creation of the Deaconess Illinois Foundation, a new nonprofit charitable organization that will support health care services and patient care across Southern Illinois.

The foundation, organized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, will oversee fundraising efforts for Deaconess Illinois by connecting individuals, businesses and community organizations with opportunities to support local hospitals and health initiatives.

According to Deaconess Illinois, money raised through the foundation will remain in Southern Illinois and benefit Deaconess Illinois Crossroads in Mt. Vernon, Deaconess Illinois Medical Center in Marion and Deaconess Illinois Union County in Anna.

William Davis, president of the Deaconess Illinois Region, said the foundation is intended to provide communities with another way to invest in local health care while helping fund patient care, caregiver support, medical technology and other hospital needs.

Donations may also be directed toward medical equipment and technology, patient assistance programs, employee education, community health initiatives and facility improvements. Donors will have the option of designating gifts to a specific Deaconess Illinois hospital or to the area of greatest need.

The foundation will be governed by a volunteer board of community leaders. Founding board members include Dr. Dennon Davis, Kelli Wood, Kevin Beckemeyer, Kristina Scott, Lety Demattei, Terance Henry, Valerie Boyer, Deborah Hogg and Dr. Steve O’Keefe.

Deaconess Illinois said the board will help establish the foundation’s priorities, encourage community involvement and oversee the stewardship of charitable contributions.