Saint Mary's Foundation celebrates 50th anniversary in new home

Though Mercy Health Saint Mary’s Foundation officially moved into its new office space in May, the converted residential building at 307 Jefferson SE is just starting to feel like home for staff and community.

“The new space has truly exceeded all of our expectations,” says Michelle Rabideau, president of Saint Mary’s Foundation. “The vision was for us to have a home that obviously would provide office space but that would also provide space for donor relations activities, small gatherings, anything that would provide an opportunity to engage our community.” 

Rabideau says it was important for the foundation to work together creatively with architects and interior designers at Progressive AE and Custer as well as construction partners at Erhardt Construction to preserve the historic integrity and character of the building while still converting the home to a modern office and conference space. 

“Some of the unique crown moldings and window trims were maintained but we certainly needed to have a complete facility facelift, if you will,” Rabideau says. “It did not have the open space that we needed for events and was not conducive to an office environment.” 

There are three levels in the 6,000-square-foot Saint Mary’s Foundation home. The first is primarily office space and the living room area, the second houses a catering kitchen and the Office of System Philanthropy, and the third is an innovation suite, designed for staff productivity and creativity.  

Formally titled the John and Marie Canepa Place for the largest donors for the project, John and Marie Canepa, the historic Grand Rapids building cost Saint Mary’s Foundation about $1 million in renovations, including the interior design and furnishings. 

Deb Bailey, chair of the Saint Mary’s Foundation Board, said the Canepas have been supportive of every single initiative at Mercy Healthy Saint Mary’s since John Canepa served on the hospital’s Board of Trustees in the 1970s. 

This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the Saint Mary’s Foundation, which Rabideau says feels fitting considering the mission of the organization. 

“To have a place that we call a home that is also a home for our donors and our volunteers to help celebrate this special occasion I think just really brings home the whole idea that once you become a donor or volunteer at Mercy Health Saint Mary’s, you become a member of our family,” she says. 

Writer: Anya Zentmeyer, Development News Editor
Images courtesy of Erhardt Construction