Mary Jessup honored with 2008 Sparrow Founders’ Award

Longtime Sparrow volunteer receives Sparrow’s highest honor

Mary Frances Neller Jessup, a longtime volunteer and former chair of the Sparrow Health System Board of Directors received the healthcare organization’s highest honor, the 2008 Sparrow Founders’ Award.

Lance Lynch, chair of the Sparrow Health System Board of Directors, presented Jessup with the award at Sparrow’s annual Founders’ Day celebration at the Sparrow Professional Building on April 9.

Jessup was cited for her volunteer service that spanned four decades and included leadership roles with the Sparrow Auxiliary, Sparrow’s Women’s Board of Managers, and as chair of the Sparrow Board of Directors (1986-91), the first woman to serve in that role.

“Her contributions over four decades have brought a bright and shining light to Sparrow and to the communities we serve,” Lynch said.

Jessup has served in leadership roles in many local organizations including Central Methodist Church; Michigan State University’s Human Ecology Alumni Association; Burcham Hills Board of Directors; Lansing Woman’s Club; Friends of Lansing Public Library; and the Lansing Art Gallery.

Sparrow’s Founder’s Award is the highest individual honor bestowed by the Sparrow Health System. Past recipients include philanthropist and community leader Virginia Hilbert; Sparrow volunteer and longtime board member Evelyn Scheffel; former Sparrow President and CEO F. Karl Neumann; Mason businessman Frank Guerriero; community leader Duane Vernon; former Sparrow Vice President and Director of Nursing Sue Tadgerson; former Sparrow Health System Board Chair, community leader and MSU professor Marylee Davis, PhD; former Michigan State University Athletic Director Ron Mason; and legendary physicians Dr. William Harrison, Dr. Mahlon Sharp and Dr. Joseph Sheets.

The celebration marks Sparrow’s 112th year of service to the mid-Michigan community. Founded in 1896 by a group of 114 women volunteers, the organization got its start as Lansing City Hospital and was rebuilt as Sparrow Hospital at its current site at 1215 E. Michigan Avenue in 1912, taking the name of Lansing businessman and benefactor Edward W. Sparrow.