There is a venerable local organization that has been in business longer than the City of Mercer Island has been a city. The volunteers produce a useful product that is mailed to every household and organization on the Island and is prized by its recipients. This praiseworthy effort is in the “business” of raising money for an honored Seattle institution.
Have you guessed the identity of this quiet volunteer organization?
It is the Mercer Island Guild of Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center. The local guild has been publishing the Mercer Island Directory continuously for 63 years as a project to benefit the hospital and its young patients. Over the years, this small band of dedicated workers has raised more than $2,500,000 for the hospital’s uncompensated care program, which provides high-quality medical care to all children, regardless of their families’ ability to pay. This September, the Island Guild’s 2006 campaign proudly added $159,700 to that total. We are pleased to note that among the 500 Children’s Guilds, the Mercer Island Guild is the No. 10 fund-raiser in the state.
Children’s Hospital was founded in 1907 on Queen Anne Hill by a group of Seattle women. In 1928, some guilds were formed to raise money to support the hospital. The Mercer Island Guild began publishing the directory in 1943 to provide money for the hospital and to offer a service for Island residents. Several of the 42 current members have been active for more than 30 years. The Guild’s members gather and edit information during the year and, after the books are printed, they will come together in late winter in work parties to prepare the books for the March mailing. The work parties are open to any who want to volunteer to help.
Of the many guilds in Washington State, only the Mercer Island Guild produces a phone directory. It is a very useful reference book for Islanders. The first five pages contain pertinent information, from emergency numbers to religious organizations, including the days and times of their services, organizations for young people, service organizations, community services (fire and police, library, the telephone and power companies, post offices, etc.). The residential telephone listings follow, from Aarnes to Zwingle. A very helpful colored fold-out map of Mercer Island precedes the listings of the business and professional advertisers at the back section of the book.
We encourage Islanders to patronize our advertisers. It is their ads that produce most of the funds we are able to contribute to the hospital. We also believe it is good for the community to have thriving local businesses.
When you receive your directory in the Spring, please look for the blue envelope in your book and mail a generous tax-deductible contribution to the Guild for the benefit of Children’s. The hospital relies upon contributions from the greater community to provide care for needy children. Thank you for helping. To be listed in the directory, email miguild@msn.com
By the way, the City of Mercer Island was incorporated in 1960, so the Mercer Island Guild antedates it by 17 years.
Islander Char Savio is the President of the Mercer Island Guild of Childrens’ Hospital and Regional Medical Center of Seattle.
