Mike O'Shaughnessy, son of Barbara and Donald O'Shaughnessy, speaks on behalf of the I.A. O'Shaughnessy Foundation duirng the dedication of a garden in his mother's name at Midland Memorial Hospital Friday afternoon. photo by Gary Rhodes 06/26/09
By Ruth Campbell Staff Writer
Published: Sunday, June 28, 2009 1:18 AM CDT
Paying tribute to a longtime contributor and member of the Midland Memorial Hospital Board of Governors Friday, the garden between the hospital and medical office building was named for Barbara O’Shaughnessy.
The roughly 4,000-square-foot garden was made possible by a grant from the I.A. O’Shaughnessy Foundation, one of the first to help match the challenge grant from Abell-Hanger Foundation for the Medical Office Building Campaign. The roughly $20 million, 2-story medical office building opened in 2007 was financed in part by $6.5 million in private donations.
About 100 people attended Friday’s ceremony. Hospital President and Chief Executive Officer Russell Meyers said doors to the garden would be open all the time. As part of bond construction on the new patient tower and facility improvements, a new cafeteria will overlook the flowers and plants. MMH has already used the space for celebrations.
O’Shaughnessy has been on the hospital’s board of governors since 1991 and worked with her late husband, Donald, in philanthropic endeavors in Midland and elsewhere. I.A. O’Shaughnessy founded the foundation in 1941.
The Bloomington, Minn.-based foundation’s mission is to share the legacy of Ignatius Aloysius O’Shaughnessy for the common good, making grants that enrich communities and improve people’s lives, its Web site said.
Barbara O’Shaughnessy and eight of her family members turned out for the ceremony. Her son Mike O’Shaughnessy spoke the audience about Midland’s can-do spirit and the honor of helping make the medical office building happen.
Foundation criteria for funding are to look for the impact of a project, a solid financial picture, “good bang for your buck,” strong and broad-based community support. Mike O’Shaughnessy said the medical office building surpassed those stipulations.
“When mom gets behind something, she displays that can-do attitude the rest of the community has,” Mike O’Shaughnessy said. “Five of six kids were born here, probably in the same room which has not been redecorated since 1950.”
Mike O’Shaughnessy said his mother has been involved in Midland for 60 years in everything from the hospital to Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, St. Ann’s Family Fair and Trinity School to name a few.
He said his parents worked together in all philanthropic endeavors and after his father died, Barbara O’Shaughnessy continued their work. “Mom, you have done a wonderful job,” Mike O’Shaughnessy said, adding he hopes the garden provides comfort and solace to patients, visitors and the hardworking medical professionals at MMH.
“I think the garden’s going to be very nice,” Meyers said. “I’ve been really interested in how much we’ve been able to use it. ... It’s nice to have an outdoor space adjacent to the hospital with a little bit of cover, a little bit of greenery. It really draws people. I think it really adds to our environment.”
As part of the festivities, furnishings in the front room of the Midland Memorial Foundation, housed in the medical office building, was dedicated to members of the McGruder family and Frances Hill Metcalf by her three children, Foundation Executive Director Barbara Tom Jowell said.
Other fabulous news is that William went through graduation ceremonies last week! He officially graduated in January but got to do the ceremony in June. He went from an all F's student to graduating with all A's and honors! He attended his first semester of college to get his certificate for personal training and will be returning in the fall to study nutrition. I am so proud of him!
