“In 1906, Dr. Alice Graham became sick, to remain an invalid for six dreadful years. From her bed she dictated letters, telephoned to friends and strangers, called to her side the different heads of departments, wrote articles for the papers, planned, encouraged, strengthened, and was troubled only as to the future of the Hospital and the ability of her sister to continue the work of the two.

To her bedside, unsolicited, and not knowing that he was answering one of her oft-repeated longings, Mr. Charles Armour one day sent $5,000 as

the nucleus of a Mercy Hospital Endowment Fund.

Not ten minutes before its arrival, Dr. Graham had been almost praying that before she had to leave us, there might be the beginning of such a fund. She did not know Mr. Armour, and Mr. Armour did not know how deep was her longing.

The coming of the $5,000 was as had been many another helpful happening in the past.”

Dr. Graham died in 1912. The Children's Mercy endowment fund, started nearly a century ago by Charles Armour, today totals more than $150 million and provides annual income for the hospital's expansion programs and other capital needs.