In the News

NICU Receives New Incubators

Local Business Makes Philanthropy a Priority Despite Rough Economy

By Carmichael Times - Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Sacramento - The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Mercy San Juan Medical Center has three new state-of-the-art incubators for its tiniest patients, thanks to the generosity of a local company. The incubators arrived in May and are now being used by Mercy San Juan’s smallest or sickest babies.

Lawson Mechanical Contractors donated $25,000 raised at its 2008 golf tournament to Mercy Foundation for the purchase of the incubators to help give these premature babies a better chance for a healthier beginning. Lawson Mechanical has also committed to donating the proceeds from its 2009 tournament to Mercy as well.

Lawson Mechanical’s donations come at a time when many companies are cutting back on their philanthropy due to the downturn in the economy. Executives at Lawson Mechanical, however, say giving back to the community is even more of a priority now, when the need is greatest. “In spite of the troubled economic times,” says David Lawson, Operations Manager, “Lawson and our partners in the construction community remain committed to improving lives over the long-term.”

Executives at Lawson Mechanical began their annual golf tournament in 2007 to celebrate the company’s 60th anniversary and as a way to give back to the community. The money raised during the tournament is then donated to a local organization identified by a committee within the company. For three years running, that recipient has been Mercy Foundation, which is responsible for raising philanthropic support for the Sacramento area Mercy hospitals, including Mercy San Juan Medical Center. For David Lawson, Mercy holds a special place in his heart. “Both of my sons were born at Mercy San Juan,” he explains. “With my oldest, my wife went into premature labor at 24 weeks. It was a stressful time for us, but I always knew we were receiving the best possible care.”

In 2008, the company raised $25,000 for Mercy San Juan’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). That money was used for the purchase of high tech incubators, designed specifically for the hundreds of premature infants treated at Mercy San Juan every year. The incubators arrived at the hospital just a couple of weeks ago and are now in use. “These incubators provide the vital protection and controlled environment that is so crucial to the survival of our most premature and fragile babies,” explains Dr. Robert Kahle, Mercy Regional Medical Director of Women’s and Children’s Services.

“I know that had my son been born when my wife went into premature labor, I would want him to have the best possible equipment to help him thrive during an incredibly fragile time of his life,” says Lawson. In 2007, Lawson Mechanical earmarked their donation for the refurbishment of one of the Mercy San Juan’s oncology rooms. The money raised at their 2009 golf tournament (to be held this October) will also benefit Mercy San Juan however the specific department has not been identified yet.

David Lawson says the first year his company hosted their golf tournament they raised $15,000 for Mercy. Last year that number rose to $25,000. And this year, he is confident that number will rise again, despite the current state of our economy. “We are committed to partnering with Mercy Foundation to improve the lives of those in need in our community.”

Established in 1954, Mercy Foundation is responsible for raising philanthropic support and community awareness for the works of the Sisters of Mercy in the areas of healthcare, education, affordable housing, and care for the poor and elderly in the greater Sacramento region.

Mercy San Juan Medical Center is a 260-bed facility serves more than 150,000 people each year from north Sacramento County, south Placer County and beyond with a broad array of quality programs and services. Doctors are the cornerstone behind teams of healthcare professionals who have earned national recognition for Mercy San Juan’s Trauma Center, Cardiac Services, Family Birth Center, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Bariatric Surgery program. Mercy San Juan is part of Mercy, which also operates Mercy General Hospital , Mercy Hospital of Folsom and Methodist Hospital .