Legence Bank and Regional Community Leaders Pledge $125,000 to Support SIH Mulberry Center Expansion
HARRISBURG, Ill. — A powerful show of regional leadership is accelerating the modernization and expansion of the SIH Mulberry Center. As the only nonprofit inpatient mental health facility of its kind serving southernmost Illinois, the SIH Mulberry Center provides critical psychiatric care in a supportive medical environment.
Legence Bank has pledged $75,000 to the SIH Foundation in support of the project, a commitment further strengthened by personal investments of $25,000 each from Kevin and Jeannie Beckemeyer of Marion and Martin and Angie Rowe of Harrisburg. Together, the collective leadership commitment totals $125,000.
“There are moments when leadership requires more than words — it requires action,” said Legence Bank President and CEO Kevin Beckemeyer. “As a community bank, we understand the health of our region directly impacts its economic stability. Access to behavioral and mental health services is foundational. When individuals and families have access to quality care close to home, it strengthens our workforce, supports employers and enhances long-term community resilience.”
Beckemeyer said the investment reflects more than corporate support.
“Mental health is not abstract. It affects neighbors, friends, employees and families we care about,” he said. “Supporting this project felt like the right thing to do — not just as a business leader, but as someone who calls this region home.”
Jeannie Beckemeyer, who has worked in social services, said she has seen firsthand the need for accessible and compassionate mental health care.
“The mind and body are deeply connected,” she said. “The holistic approach embraced by the SIH Mulberry Center aligns with what I believe is essential for long-term wellness. This expansion will allow more individuals and families to receive advanced care close to home, reducing barriers and strengthening the overall health of Southern Illinois.”
Angie Rowe, chair of the SIH Harrisburg Medical Center Foundation Board, said the gift significantly advances the board’s long-term vision.
“This accelerates our progress in very tangible ways,” Rowe said. “It strengthens our ability to modernize facilities, expand access and implement the vision our board has been working toward. When respected community leaders step forward, it inspires confidence and encourages broader participation.”
Rowe and her husband, Martin Rowe, president and CEO of First Eldorado Bancshares Inc., are contributing $25,000 personally.
The coordinated corporate and personal investment reflects a shared conviction that behavioral health care is essential to the region’s long-term strength.
From a regional economic standpoint, Tricia Overturf, Legence Bank vice president of marketing and communications, said the project signals forward momentum.
“Keeping advanced care local strengthens economic stability, supports employers and enhances quality of life,” Overturf said. “When private sector leadership partners with healthcare systems, it sends a clear message that mental health matters. This is an investment in sustainability and in the future of Southern Illinois.”
SIH Harrisburg Medical Center Vice President and Administrator Rodney Smith said the partnership demonstrates what is possible when business and healthcare align.
“When both an institution and its leaders personally invest in a project like this, it sends a powerful message,” Smith said. “This unified commitment reinforces that behavioral health is a priority in our region. The modernization of the SIH Mulberry Center will enhance patient dignity, expand capacity and ensure families can access compassionate care close to home.”
SIH Foundation Director Jennifer Sigler, Ph.D., said the gift represents transformational support.”
“Beyond the financial impact, Legence Bank’s commitment demonstrates shared belief, from corporate leadership to individual families, in the future of health care in Southern Illinois. It builds momentum and moves vision into reality.”