FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7 – (DES MOINES, IOWA) Mercy College of Health Sciences is launching the public phase of the most ambitious fundraising effort the College has ever undertaken in its 125-year history: a $15 million Legacy of Faith Campaign for the Joyce E. Lillis School of Nursing to build an innovative facility dedicated to nursing simulation and learning.
The campaign has raised $7.8 million from 298 donors since the Mercy College Board of Directors approved the capital campaign on April 1, 2024.
A transformational $2.5 million lead gift was generously provided by Terry and Joyce Lillis. Other major donations include a $1.5 million gift from the Ruan Family Foundation and $500,000 from a private foundation. An additional 36 individuals and companies have donated gifts between $25,000 to $200,000.
“This campaign is a first and we are excited to have surpassed 50 percent of our total goal,” stated Mercy College of Health Sciences President Adreain Henry, OD, EdD, MBA. “We are grateful to the Lillis family for their thoughtful generosity in providing the largest donation in the College’s 125-year history. This will enable us to urgently respond to the dire nursing workforce shortage that is facing our state and will distinguish Mercy College as an elite health sciences institution.”
Joyce E. Lillis is a retired registered nurse who dedicated over 47 years to the healthcare profession, with her longest tenure of nearly 40 years at MercyOne in Des Moines. Throughout her career, Joyce made significant contributions to the healthcare industry through direct and indirect patient care, education, and encouragement in the pursuit of excellence in nursing. Joyce served as director of MercyOne’s Home Care, supervising over 100 nurses, aides, and other healthcare professionals. She was recognized for several achievements over her career and was named one of the 100 Great Nurses of Iowa in 2014.
Joyce has extended her legacy of service by serving on the Mercy College Board of Directors, where she currently serves as Board Chair. Terry is the retired chief financial officer of Principal. The high school sweethearts were married in 1977, and have continually sought out opportunities to support healthcare and education initiatives throughout their respective careers and into retirement.
“We benefitted from a lot of people who helped us, so when we got to the point where we could give back, we thought about our priorities,” stated Terry Lillis. “One of them is health. Another is education. The third is faith. Mercy College of Health Sciences is a place where all three of these are used in tandem to support the next generation of nurses. The need for those qualified, compassionate nurses is greater than ever.”
The 24,300 sq. ft., two-story Joyce E. Lillis School of Nursing building will replace a 12,000 sq. ft. building on Mercy College’s campus along the 7th Avenue corridor into downtown Des Moines. The previous building was used to its full capacity until it was deemed unfit for use and decommissioned in 2018. The new Joyce E. Lillis School of Nursing will be a dedicated facility for the nursing program with new skills labs, simulation spaces, and classrooms outfitted with high-fidelity manikins, cutting-edge technology, and state-of-the-art equipment.
Iowa Workforce Development job postings consistently indicate over 3,500 openings are for registered nurses, the number one need for skilled labor in the state.
“I am confident that the compelling need for nurses, along with the generosity of others who have already stepped forward to support the Legacy of Faith Campaign for the Joyce E. Lillis School of Nursing, will inspire others to support this important project,” stated Dr. Henry. “Everyone will rely upon a healthcare professional at some point in a time of need for themselves or for a loved one. We will need qualified nurses to provide care and support during those times. Collectively, we must do everything possible to attract and retain quality students, exceptional faculty, and compassionate graduates to fill the monumental healthcare shortages facing our state.”
Construction on the new facility is expected to commence in 2026 upon the completion of the $15 million fundraising campaign this year.
To learn more, donate, or get involved, please visit www.MCHS.edu/Campaign.
About Mercy College of Health Sciences
Mercy College of Health Sciences is a health sciences specialty school rooted in the Catholic heritage of the Sisters of Mercy. Located in the heart of downtown Des Moines, Iowa, Mercy College offers master’s, bachelor’s, and associate degrees, certificates, and continuing education courses. Through our unique hands-on learning, unparalleled clinical rotations, and accelerated education offerings, our students are prepared to enter the workforce quickly with the critical skills necessary to make an immediate impact in their chosen healthcare careers. Guided by our Core Values of Knowledge, Reverence, Integrity, Compassion, and Excellence, Mercy College has been transforming students into successful healthcare professionals for 125 years.
