For more than 100 years...
the Sisters have served in a variety of educational, healthcare and social service ministries primarily in North Carolina and the southeastern part of the United States.

The Sisters initially came to Belmont, NC, the site of their Motherhouse, in 1892 to open Sacred Heart Academy, but soon expanded their focus to include caring for the sick. Responding to needs of their communities, in 1900, the Sisters opened St. Joseph's Sanitarium in Asheville, NC, and in 1906, Mercy General Hospital in Charlotte, NC.

Eighty-nine years later, Mercy Hospital had become Mercy Health Services, a multi-site system of hospitals, physician offices and outpatient services. In 1995, the Sisters of Mercy decided to move beyond the direct provision of acute health care services in addressing the needs of the unserved and underserved. That year, Mercy Health Services was sold for $115 million and the proceeds from the divestiture were used by the Sisters to create the Sisters of Mercy of North Carolina Foundation, Inc.

Three years later, in 1998, St. Joseph's Hospital, which had been converted to a general hospital in 1938, was sold for $82 million. These funds were added to the Sisters of Mercy of North Carolina Foundation's assets.

Continuing to Serve Unmet Needs
Just as Mercy and St. Joseph's Hospitals opened their doors to offer medical care in response to the needs of their communities, the Foundation addresses unmet and underserved needs. Grants are made to support the work of selected non-profit 501(c)(3) healthcare, educational and social service organizations which are located in the Metrolina and Western North Carolina regions. The Foundation seeks to assist projects which are designed to improve the quality of life for women, children, the elderly and those who are poor. Special attention will be focused on promoting systemic change.