Philanthropic Partner Spotlight: Emerson’s — Investing in Community Health, One Purchase at a Time

 

Local businesses Emerson’s on Main and Emerson’s at the Willow have become more than just trusted places to shop. They’ve become champions for community health and well-being through their longtime partnership with the MercyOne North Iowa Foundation. 

The connection began years ago with a simple idea: give back through fashion. “Our first retail involvement with MercyOne North Iowa was doing a ‘Sweet Deals’ fundraiser in the hospital gift shop,” recalls Ken Emerson, owner of both Emerson’s locations. “We brought in clothing, shoes and jewelry for employees and the public to purchase, and a portion of every sale went back to the gift shop to support its mission of strengthening local health care.” 

What started as a fundraiser has since evolved into a long-standing and creative partnership. One of the most impactful innovations was the launch of the MercyOne In-Store Payroll Deduction Program. Through this program, MercyOne colleagues can shop for essentials like scrubs and shoes and have the cost deducted directly from their paycheck. They also receive a discount on their purchases, while a portion of each sale goes back to support the MercyOne North Iowa Foundation. 

“This program supports both the colleagues and the Foundation,” Ken explains. “It’s important to us that we’re helping those who care for our community, while also contributing to the Foundation’s ongoing efforts to enhance local health care.” 

For Ken and his team, the motivation to give back is simple. “It’s imperative that we have access to excellent health care and education opportunities for everyone in our community and surrounding area. All the services offered by MercyOne are vital to maintaining and growing that need.” 

Looking ahead, Emerson’s is excited to deepen their partnership with the MercyOne North Iowa Foundation. “We look forward to continuing to provide support to the Foundation and colleagues of MercyOne,” says Ken. “Being able to serve our customers and community in this way is truly rewarding.” 

Thanks to the generosity and innovation of partners like Emerson’s, MercyOne North Iowa continues to provide a healing presence across our region—one that is strengthened every day by community-rooted support.