HOSPITAL HONORS FAMILY

Mercy Health-Lorain recognizes Veard family and their financial donations with fun festival

Mercy Health-Lorain Hospital honored the Veard family with the Veard Family Fun Fest on July 31 in recognition of their generous support in advancing maternal health.

In May 2017, Mercy unveiled the Veard Family Birthing Center. The $1 million renovation with the support of Jon Veard of United Property Management, and the Mercy Health Foundation underscored the Veard family’s generosity and commitment to Lorain County.

The birthing center featured a completely re-designed nursery and triage unit, and is one of the few facilities in the area to utilize wireless EKG monitoring technology and an upgraded nitrous oxide machine to assist mothers during labor.

The upgrades addressed all of the hospital’s pre-natal and post-natal needs ranging from

Since the renovation Oley said the Veard Family Birthing Center has welcomed more than 1,600 babies into the world.

the new technology to décor.

“It’s a privilege to be here today celebrating the culmination of our birthing center renovation and to recognize in a special way the generous support from one family who back in 2017, along with Mercy Health, made an investment to help us continue to serve the needs of women in our communities,” said Ed Oley, president of Mercy Health’s Lorain market.

Since the renovation Oley said the Veard Family Birthing Center has welcomed more than 1,600 babies into the world, including 20 sets of twins.

“It’s the recognition of these high standards that initially brought the Veard family together with Mercy,” Oley added. “I remain indebted to this wonderful family and thank them for recognizing a need and becoming partners with us in advancing the health care and birthing services offered at this hospital.”

Mercy first opened its maternity unit in 1905 at St. Joseph’s Hospital, and has birthed over 100,000 babies.

Mercy Health Foundation President Scott Pember stressed the Veard family’s transformational gift was a game changer in raising the profile of Mercy Health-Lorain Hospital and spurring many additional gifts of the last two years.

Pember said Mercy will be announcing four new major projects in the near future, totaling millions in investment in the hospital, which was all spurred as a result of the Veard family’s generosity.

Jon Veard said in 2017 he never hesitated when Mercy approached him about making a contribution and recognized the strong community benefit Mercy brings to the area.

“It is just something I did because I felt I owed the community something and I would like to see others follow my example,” Veard said at the time.

KEVIN MARTIN — THE MORNING JOURNAL Jon Veard, second from right, is presented with a plaque from Ed Oley, right, on July 31 in recognition of his generous contribution to Mercy Health-Lorain Hospital which culminated in the Veard Family Birthing Center.

KEVIN MARTIN — THE MORNING JOURNAL Jon Veard, left, is presented with a plaque from Ed Oley, right, on July 31 in recognition of his generous contribution to Mercy Health-Lorain Hospital which culminated in the Veard Family Birthing Center.