DECATUR — The Friends of St. Mary's Hospital has changed their name to HSHS St. Mary's Foundation to better reflect their role as the philanthropic arm of the Decatur hospital.

For nearly three decades, the St. Mary's Foundation has served the Decatur area, providing the community a local avenue for giving and volunteering to ensure the best health care possible for Decatur and the entire central Illinois region.

"While our name has changed, the mission of HSHS St. Mary's Foundation remains the same," said Debbie Seitz, executive director of Philanthropy. "Every dollar raised by the Foundation directly benefits the patients we serve by funding the latest medical breakthroughs and innovations, health care education, preventative health practices and more. Through the efforts of the Foundation and our dedicated supporters, we are helping to secure a healthier future for our community."

The St. Mary's Foundation is an integral part of the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis Foundation, which supports 14 HSHS hospitals throughout Illinois and Wisconsin, and assures that all funds raised in the Decatur area stay local and are appropriately administered to provide the greatest impact for the communities.