[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 33 (Tuesday, March 12, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H2110-H2111]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF SPARROW HOSPITAL, LANSING, MI

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Metcalf). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Chrysler] is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. CHRYSLER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the proud 
history and accomplishments of Sparrow Hospital of Lansing, MI, which 
celebrates its 100th anniversary on March 18, 1996.
  In the spring of 1896, a group of young women met at Lansing's Downey 
Hotel to discuss the growing need for a community hospital in the 
developing capital city. Armed with sheer determination, the 114 
charter members of the Women's Hospital Association set about to raise 
funds to buy the local DeViney House, located on West Ottawa Street. 
Having just $400, they were forced to rent instead.

[[Page H2111]]

  Not easily discouraged, these women opened and operated an 11-bed 
hospital, hired a doctor and a nurse, and donated their own linens.
  As the needs of the community continued to expand, so did the needs 
of the facility. Expanding the operation several times, the hospital 
was finally located on a plot of land donated by Edward W. Sparrow--one 
of Lansing's pioneer developers.
  Edward Sparrow donated the land at 1215 East Michigan Avenue and 
$100,000 to build the new hospital. Two years later on November 6, 
1912, the 44-bed Edward W. Sparrow Hospital opened its doors. At the 
dedication ceremonies, it was avowed that the purpose of the new 
hospital was for ``receiving, caring for and healing the sick and 
injured, without regard to race, creed, or color.''
  Sparrow Hospital in the years after has lived up to this purpose. 
Sparrow is a nonprofit organization, guided by volunteer boards, 
comprised of people representing a wide spectrum of community 
interests.
  Through the efforts of its founders, and legions of others in the 
community, Lansing's first health service has grown to become today's 
Sparrow Hospital and the Sparrow Health System--a place where highly 
trained professionals work together to perform daily miracles.
  Sparrow blends the knowledge and expertise of over 600 physicians, 
nearly 3,000 associates, and 1,400 volunteers with the most advanced 
technology, serving as a comprehensive health system for an eight-
county population of nearly 1 million residents.
  Sparrow is the regional center for pediatrics,burn treatment, cancer 
care, radiation therapy, neurological care, high-risk obstetrics, 
dialysis, and neonatal intensive care. Each year Sparrow treats over 
120,000 residents, and Sparrow Health System services improve the 
health of thousands more.
  The volunteers who first founded Sparrow and the continued community 
interest have made Sparrow Hospital and the Sparrow Health System the 
special place it is today. This spirit of volunteerism and community 
development will serve as a lasting legacy to the mid-Michigan 
community.
  I would like to congratulate and commend all the individuals involved 
with the successful first 100 years of Sparrow Hospital, including the 
community itself, in celebrating this historic accomplishment.

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