The gift of nature: Bass Pro Shops donates $10k to Mercy Children's Hospital for aquarium

Ryan Collingwood, Springfield News-Leader
·2 min read
Mercy Springfield Executive Director of Nursing Jennifer Murray talks with Bass Pro Shops Senior Director of Conservation Bob Ziehmer about the new aquarium that Mercy Kids ChildrenÕs Hospital is getting after Bass Pro Shops present a check to the Mercy Health Foundation Springfield for $10,000 to help pay for the new 300-gallon aquarium on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022.

Correction: This story has been updated to include the correct spelling and email address of Alyea Alldredge.

Nature has long provided a necessary distraction for the patients of Mercy Kids Children's Hospital.

For the past 40 years, youngsters — many enduring life-changing illnesses and injuries — have found refuge by staring into the hospital's 180-gallon water tank and its assortment of fresh water fish.

"They get to see the fish, be the fish-feeder for the day," said Mercy Child Life Services manager Ashley Wilson. "The serenity piece is very important for the families, when this is a very stressful time in their lives."

It's on its way to a major upgrade.

Bass Pro Shops founder and noted conservationist Johnny Morris donated a $10,000 check to Mercy Kids Children's Hospital on Thursday. The funds will go toward the hospital's $50,000 fundraising effort for a bigger, up-to-date fish tank.

The new tank will have sizable portholes in the hallways that allow patients to look into what will be 300-gallon aquarium with even more fish.

"I am honored to be part of such a meaningful project for Mercy Kids," said Morris, who couldn't take part in Thursday's check presentation due to a scheduling conflict. "We hope this updated aquarium will bring the wonder of the great outdoors to these kids and inspire them as they find their way back to health."

Bass Pro Shops Senior Director of Conservation Bob Ziehmer (third from left) and Bass Pro Senior Manager of Community Sarah Hough (second from left) present a check to the Mercy Health Foundation Springfield for $10,000 to help pay for a new 300-gallon aquarium at Mercy Kids ChildrenÕs Hospital on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022.
Bass Pro Shops Senior Director of Conservation Bob Ziehmer (third from left) and Bass Pro Senior Manager of Community Sarah Hough (second from left) present a check to the Mercy Health Foundation Springfield for $10,000 to help pay for a new 300-gallon aquarium at Mercy Kids ChildrenÕs Hospital on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022.

Alyea Alldredge, executive director of  Mercy Health Foundation Springfield, was thankful for the donation.

"The outdoors is such an important part of life in the Ozarks," Alldredge said, "and we know bringing some of the 'outside in' to our young patients will get them hiking down the path to recovery."

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Bass Pro Shops Senior Director of Conservation Bob Ziehmer and Bass Pro Senior Manager of Community Sarah Hough presented the check to Mercy officials.

Mercy Kids Children's Hospital's efforts tugged at the heartstrings for Ziehmer, who softened with emotion when referencing a young grandchild who recently spent three weeks in intensive care in a children's hospital outside of Springfield.

"The (aquarium) will help reduce these kids' anxiety in days full of stress," Ziehmer said. "The great outdoors, not only does it inspire, but it helps with the spiritual and mental healing.

"I've seen first hand the importance of these facilities and the power of the staff dealing with children."

Mercy has is raised $12,000 toward its $50,000 goal. If you would like to contribute to the project, contact Alldredge at alyea.alldredge@mercy.net.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Bass Pro Shops donates $10k to Mercy Children's Hospital for aquarium