Mercy College of Health Sciences Awarded Fifth Largest Gift to Establish Mains Endowed Scholarship Fund

Mercy College of Health Sciences has been awarded the fifth largest gift in the institution’s history, establishing the Mains Endowed Scholarship Fund.

The $240,500 estate gift was given by the late Suzanne Mains, a graduate and eventual director of Mercy School of Nursing, which later became part of Mercy College of Health Sciences. Suzanne spent the majority of her career at MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center, serving there for 40 years.

Her wish was to assist future nursing students at Mercy College of Health Sciences through annual distribution of two scholarships. The first scholarship will reward a nursing student with a record of academic achievement at either the high school or college level, and the second scholarship will assist a nursing student with demonstrated financial need, as determined by the College.

“Suzanne exemplified the Mercy College values of helping all in our community succeed academically, even those without the means to do so. We thank Suzanne and her family for this generous gift that will uphold her legacy and provide meaningful scholarship in perpetuity,” said Mercy College President Douglas Fiore, PhD.

“Suzanne’s life’s work was rooted in serving others. Through her generosity, she is able to carry on her legacy through these scholarships. We are grateful to her and her family for the many lives she will impact through her philanthropy,” said Shannon Cofield, President of MercyOne Des Moines Foundation.