LIMA, OHIO (MERCY HEALTH) – At the Red Door Gala on Thursday, June 6th, Mercy Health presented the 44th Mercy Club Award to the Perry Family in honor of Rex and Barbara Perry for their service and commitment to the Lima community. Beth Perry Ardell and Scot Perry received the award from Mercy Health – Lima Market President Ronda Lehman in honor of their parents, Rex and Barbara.
“This award is presented annually to a person or family who has had a significant impact both in our community and in connection with St. Rita’s Medical Center, helping us to advance health care locally,” said Sara Ambroza, president, Mercy Health Foundation—Greater Lima. “Mercy Club allows us to continue the Sisters of Mercy’s commitment to ‘reading the signs of the times’ and acting on them.”
Rex and Barbara Perry were visionaries. Barbara, a graduate of Otterbein College, worked in health care as a medical technician at Miami Valley Hospital prior to becoming a wife, mother, and grandmother, and Rex, a graduate of Purdue University with a degree in engineering, was an extraordinary leader in our community, establishing Perry Corporation in 1965. The company serves a diverse collection of industries, helping their clients achieve results by maximizing the integration of technology with business needs. Rex was a pillar of the community and a business leader who understood the importance of contributing to and supporting Lima. They were both dedicated to giving back, whether it was through philanthropy, volunteer work, or community initiatives. In addition, Rex served as a past President of Lima Rotary and was a community ambassador known for his love of assisting people to achieve their greatest life potential. He often served as a mentor to students as they navigated the next steps, and both created a legacy of social responsibility and goodwill.
Rex and Barbara first became Mercy Club members in 1984. Barbara and the Perry Family have continued to contribute to philanthropic initiatives, most recently supporting Mercy Health—St. Rita’s Graduate Medical Education, as well as making a transformational gift to Mercy Health last summer that will enable us to create a dedicated space for managing and offering child care services in the former home of PERRY proTECH on 545 W. Market Street, Lima.
One of the biggest barriers to finding balance for many on our team has been securing reliable, flexible, and affordable child care. And now, thanks to the Perry family and some incredible community partners, we are moving forward with plans to create additional child care in our community, designed specifically for the needs of our team and others facing similar challenges. The Perry Building will provide ample space for us to care for our working parents in a whole new way and will also significantly contribute to our recruitment and employee retention efforts. As we embark on this new chapter for the Perry Building in the heart of downtown Lima, we are reminded of Rex’s dedication to our community’s progress. Supporting our associates in all areas of their lives is our top priority. They give of themselves each and every day to care for our community, so ensuring their well-being is critical to the work we do.
We cannot express enough gratitude to the Perry family for their remarkable contribution and for sharing in our dedication to addressing the needs of our time, just as Mercy Health founder Catherine McAuley did so many years ago.
“This transformational gift aligns perfectly with our commitment to fostering a positive and family-friendly workplace culture. It demonstrates our dedication to investing in our associates' well-being and recognizing the importance of work-life balance,” says Ronda Lehman, president, Mercy Health-Lima.
Making The Perry Building a warm and welcoming child care center will take some time and investment. Mercy Health would also like to recognize two additional partners who are helping to make this work come to life.
The City of Lima has committed $100,000 in Block Grant Funding to support the renovation of the Center.
“Addressing the need for additional child care is critical for our community, as we aim to support working parents and grandparents,” said Mayor Sharetta Smith. “When people trust that their children are in good hands, they can thrive in their careers and provide a calm and predictable environment for their children during the week. We applaud Mercy Health and the Perry Family for understanding the need and taking actionable steps to make it happen for our citizens.”
In addition, St. Rita’s Volunteer Auxiliary has committed a $150,000 gift to this transformational initiative. The more than 300 volunteers at St. Rita’s dedicate their time, talent, and treasure to our mission every day. They see and know our work and get to know our teams quite well. For them, this is just one more way that they can stand behind our associates and give back to the community.
“Our organization is committed to ensuring that St. Rita’s and its associates always have what they need to provide the best care possible. By opening a new child care center near the Medical Center that can cater to nurses and doctors, and other clinicians or associates whose schedules are often unpredictable, we are supporting what they need most right now,” said Sara Heitmeyer, director of Volunteer Services.
The first floor of the Perry Building is currently being renovated, with plans to begin enrolling children in the spring of 2025. More information will be made available to associates and the community as progress continues.
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