For Immediate Release

Contact:

Laura Blodgett

734-712-4536

Laura.Blodgett@stjoeshealth.org

October 31, 2018

PONTIAC, Mich. – (Oct. 31, 2018) – A $4.8 million gift from the late Russell J. Ebeid has been given to St. Joseph Mercy Oakland, a member of 5-hospital Saint Joseph Mercy Health System. This multi-million donation will be used to support future hospital plans for campus redevelopment, including improvements to both the Emergency and Labor & Delivery departments.

"We are deeply thankful Russ chose to make such an extraordinary gift of $4.8 million to express his gratitude and support compassionate, quality health care for others through our hospital’s healing mission," said Shannon Striebich, president, St. Joseph Mercy Oakland. "Thanks to his generosity and foresight, thousands of people will receive care for trauma and other emergencies, as well as safe deliveries for a growing number of families. The giving spirit he demonstrated during his lifetime will touch many lives with a lasting legacy."

A dedication ceremony took place this week at the hospital in which a portrait of Russell J. Ebeid was unveiled in the hallway near the South Tower lobby entrance. In addition, two physicians who played key roles in Mr. Ebeid's care, cardiologist Dr. James Heinsimer and vascular surgeon Dr. Diego Hernandez, were recognized by the Ebeid family with plaques for their appreciation of the quality of care they both provided.

"I took care of Russ for more than 15 years and, over that time, we became friends--it was a real pleasure to know him and his entire family," said Dr. Heinsimer. "St. Joe's dedication to high quality, compassionate care made an impact on Russ. The combination of its excellent physicians and ability to personalize the patient experience across multiple units-- from surgery to dialysis to nursing-- is a total team effort that makes this high level of care possible."

Long-time chairman and president of Guardian Industries among many other personal, philanthropic and business accomplishments, Russell J. Ebeid passed away last year on July 30 at the age of 77.

He was deeply affected by his family's journey as immigrants from Lebanon to Detroit seeking a better world, and believed in hard work and making the most of opportunities. He then built on that belief to help others who are disadvantaged meet their potential.

"Russ believed in helping people achieve their goals –whether it was in education, job training, or with their health," said his daughter. "The attention and care he received at St. Joe's during the last few years of his life-- from the technicians to nurses to physicians--was phenomenal and truly made him feel like family."

St. Joseph Mercy Oakland is a leading provider of health care in Oakland county with 350,000 patient visits last year and more than 11,500 surgeries performed. As one of the main gateways into the hospital, its emergency department serves more than 63,000 people a year for trauma and other immediate care needs. The first Primary Stroke Center, the Michigan Stroke Network, is housed inside the Emergency Department, treating 600 stroke patients each year and leading the region in surgical thrombectomy capabilities.

Photo caption: From left, Shannon Striebich, president of St. Joseph Mercy Oakland, cardiologist Dr. James Heinsimer and vascular surgeon Dr. Diego Hernandez stand in front of the portrait of Russell J. Ebeid located near the South Tower lobby entrance that was unveiled during the dedication ceremony that took place this week at St. Joseph Mercy Oakland. # # #

About Saint Joseph Mercy Health System

Saint Joseph Mercy Health System (SJMHS) is a health care organization serving seven counties in southeast Michigan including Livingston, Washtenaw, Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Jackson, and Lenawee. It includes 537-bed St. Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor, 443bed St. Joseph Mercy Oakland in Pontiac, 304-bed St. Mary Mercy Livonia, 136-bed St. Joseph Mercy Livingston in Howell, and 133-bed St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea. Combined, the five hospitals are licensed for 1,553 beds, have five outpatient health centers, six urgent care facilities, more than 25 specialty centers; employ more than 15,300 individuals and have a medical staff of nearly 2,700 physicians. SJMHS has annual operating revenues of about $2 billion and returns about $115 million to its communities annually through charity care and community benefit programs.

SJMHS is a member of Trinity Health, a leading Catholic health care system based in Livonia, Mich. Trinity Health operates in 22 states, employs about 133,000 colleagues, has annual operating revenues of $17.6 billion and assets of about $24.7 billion.

Additionally, the organization returns almost $1.1 billion to its communities annually in the form of charity care and other community benefit programs.

For more information on health services offered at Saint Joseph Mercy Health System, please visit www.stjoeshealth.org.