Shawsie Branton and the Value of Kindness

Giving back and acts of kindness have been a part of the fabric of Children’s Mercy since our very beginning, starting with the spirit of our Founding Berry Sisters. Another example is lifelong Children’s Mercy supporter Mary Shaw “Shawsie” Branton. Her support began when she was just 5 years old and her mother helped her make a scrapbook to bring joy to children in the hospital.

The scrapbook brightened the day of one patient in particular whose parents were unable to visit, and it planted a seed of generosity in the heart of little Mary Shaw. She initially struggled over giving away the project she had worked so hard on. “That was when I first learned that you really had a good day when you gave something you really liked to somebody else,” she said.

Nine decades later, after a lifetime of supporting and volunteering for Children’s Mercy, as well as countless other organizations throughout the region, she carried the torch of giving to her children and grandchildren.

This kindness button is part of a display at the University of Missouri-Kansas City that honors Shawsie’s philanthropic spirit.

This article includes direct excerpts from For All Children Everywhere: Children’s Mercy Kansas City - 1897-2017, by Thomas McCormally. Copyright © 2017, The Children's Mercy Hospital. All rights reserved.