As St. Anthony’s begins a new era of caring for the south St. Louis County community by affiliating with Mercy, the St. Anthony’s Medical Center Foundation is working to expand its involvement with a new name and a significant contribution of $15 million.
The foundation is now called the Boniface Foundation. The foundation’s first act under its new name is to donate $15 million for the benefit of St. Anthony’s.
“It is only fitting that we draw on the history of St. Anthony’s to rename the foundation and to make our first contribution to commemorate the affiliation,” said Winthrop Reed III, chairman of the newly formed Boniface Foundation Board of Directors.
The Boniface name is a tribute to the history of medical care provided to the St. Louis community by the Franciscan Sisters of Germany. The first hospital operated by the sisters was St. Boniface Hospital in south St. Louis, which was named for the parish that brought the sisters over from Germany. The Franciscan Sisters operated St. Boniface from 1873-77, followed by Pius Hospital, little St. Anthony’s Hospital and old St. Anthony’s Hospital, all in south city. After the order relinquished control of the hospital, St. Anthony’s Medical Center was built in south St. Louis County and opened in 1975. The foundation was established in 1999.
“St. Anthony’s, like Mercy, has a heritage of sisters who gave their lives to the service of others,” said Mike McCurry, newly appointed president of St. Anthony’s, as well as executive vice president and chief operating officer of Mercy. “This new name of the foundation honors that heritage, and this donation will provide increased access and more services to the community of south St. Louis County. Hand in hand with St. Anthony’s, we will provide exceptional care because we are called to serve.”
