There are great milestones in life that often leave us with a sense of renewed purpose and legacy.
In 2019, the lives of Stephen and Belinda Mitchell were forever changed. Belinda was expecting her second child, a little brother for her eldest child, Charlie.
When Belinda was six months pregnant, she was rushed to Mercy Hospital for Women (MHW) where Harvey was born, three months premature. The new family of four then spent 88 days across three hospitals – most of their time at MHW’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
“We never felt the same love, care, and attention from other hospitals as we did here. The NICU at the Mercy is more like home and everyone genuinely cares,” Stephen says.
Stephen, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Oak Capital, and Belinda wanted to express how grateful they were that Harvey received the life-saving care he needed.
The Family Hub, next door to the NICU and Special Care Unit (SCN), needed a revamp. So, the Mitchell’s, in partnership with Oak Capital, set out to refurbish the Hub with a generous donation of $100,000. Vasi Design generously donated modern furnishings while Aster Alliance constructed the new space.
The four-bedroom Family Hub, with a shared kitchen and loungeroom will provide parents and families with a place to stay close to their children while they are in the NICU/SCN.
Thanks to the Mitchell’s life-changing gift, the Family Hub has been transformed into a beautiful and nurturing haven which significantly reduces undue stress and financial burden for families with unwell or premature babies.
Stephen’s philanthropic leadership has profoundly impacted MHW staff and the families who will use the Family Hub for years to come.
In December 2023, the Mitchell family, Mercy Health Group CEO Angela Nolan and Mercy Health Foundation CEO Rebecca MacFarling unveiled the new Family Hub which has seen hundreds of families through its doors already.
The legacy of the Mitchell family and Oak Capital will continue to see more significant projects like these in the future
There are many large-scale projects at Mercy Health that need your support. If you’d like to hear more about these projects or opportunities, please contact Vicky Kapourelakos, Philanthropy Manager, on vkapourelakos@mercy.com.au.
Last reviewed April 8, 2024.