Philanthropist donates $2M to Mercy

After touring Mercy Hospital Springfield's neonatal intensive care unit, Springfield philanthropist Bobby Allison committed to making a $2 million donation to the health system.

The donation, announced during Mercy's annual foundation donor dinner Sept. 22, is earmarked for the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit, which is part of Mercy's plans for renovations of Children's Hospital Springfield, according to a news release.

“How can anybody look at these babies, presumably in trouble, and not want to help them?” Allison said in the release. “I think there should be a big window out there so the people at the bus stop can see in there. Go in there and look at those babies - you’re done. It’s a done deal.”

Mercy Hospital Springfield, which today celebrates its 60th anniversary at 1235 E. Cherokee St., plans to nearly double its neonatal intensive care unit to 53 beds, according to the release.

The neonatal unit will be named after Allison's late mother, Betty, who has had several developments named in her honor after donations from Allison, including the Betty and Bobby Allison Courts and the Betty and Bobby Allison Intramural Fields at Missouri State University, the Betty Allison Junior Golf Course at Rivercut, golf course Betty Allison at Oscar Blom, and the Betty and Bobby Allison Miracle League Ball Field, according to Springfield Business Journal archives.