MercyOne Central Iowa Awarded Over $120,000 from Variety - the Children’s Charity

MercyOne Central Iowa has been awarded over $120,000 from Variety – the Children’s Charity to enhance the care and services to Iowa children at MercyOne Central Iowa Family Medicine Clinics and MercyOne House of Mercy.

A $113,050 grant was awarded to the MercyOne Central Iowa Family Medicine Clinics to fund vision screeners for pediatric patients in all 17 family medicine care locations. MercyOne Central Iowa Pediatric Care locations had previously received a generous donation for these devices from Variety - the Children’s Charity. This innovative technology is a handheld, portable device designed to help clinicians quickly and easily detect vision issues on patients six months of age and older.

“One in four school-age children has a vision problem, and some of these vision problems can lead to permanent vision loss if not detected and treated early,” said Timothy McCoy, D.O. MercyOne Des Moines, Chair of Family Medicine. “These vision screeners are providing us a way to identify vision issues early and effectively so we can provide proactive care and better serve those in our communities. We are grateful for the support from Variety - the Children’s Charity and look forward to expanding this new technology to all of our pediatric patients across Mercy One Central Iowa. I believe we are the only clinic system screening our patients with these devices in Central Iowa.”

A $9,000 grant was awarded to MercyOne House of Mercy which will fund needed items and toys to support outdoor play and learning for children at the organization.

“Active play and time outdoors is important for children’s healthy growth and development,” said Director of MercyOne House of Mercy, Rebecca Peterson. “Variety is helping us promote and support this development in the children we serve.”

“We are so pleased to partner with Variety and are grateful for its generosity to our MercyOne family,” said Shannon Cofield, President of MercyOne Des Moines Foundation. “The organization’s enduring legacy of serving the most urgent needs of kids in our community is outstanding, and we are appreciative of the important care these grants will provide.”

Variety - the Children's Charity is dedicated to improving the lives of children who are underprivileged, at-risk, critically ill or living with special needs. Funding is provided to programs and initiatives that directly impact the well-being of children throughout Iowa. For more information on how you can be a part of Variety's work, please visit varietyiowa.com.