For Immediate Release

April 24, 2006

New Playground for Oklahoma City Elementary School

Oklahoma City — Thanks to a $25,000 grant from the Sisters of Mercy and the help of Mercy co-workers, teachers, students, parents, United Acoustics employees and Oklahoma City firemen, Linwood Elementary now has a brand-new playground and five newly painted classrooms.

“This was truly a community project where we all pitched in and made it happen,” said Kathy Draper, principal of Oklahoma City’s Linwood Elementary. “It has been exciting to see the transformation—from splintered wooden teeter totters and outdated equipment to a new, safe playground for our kiddos.”

The $25,000 Caritas grant, named after the Latin word “caritas” which means charity, was awarded this past year to Linwood Elementary. The grant was part of nearly $500,000 awarded to 17 programs across the nation from the Sisters of Mercy, based in St. Louis, Missouri.

Besides the grant, more than 60 Mercy co-workers dedicate an hour each week to tutor a Linwood student. Mercy has also donated furnishings, school supplies and received a $4,900 grant that gave every staff member pocket money for additional educational tools this school year.

“When students showed up for school this week, it was like Christmas in April. The kids were giddy,” said Draper. “Besides having a safer place to play, we also have five newly painted rooms. We are very grateful to Mercy and the community for their continued support.”

Mercy Health Center, the only Magnet hospital in Oklahoma and among only 2 percent of hospitals in the nation to be awarded Magnet status, is a member of Mercy Health System of Oklahoma and the Sisters of Mercy Health System. Magnet-designated facilities: report higher patient satisfaction rates, deliver better patient outcomes, provide more nursing care at the bedside of patients and consistently outperform non-magnet organizations.