For Sheila Rice Henry, life is about giving. She chose this path as a young woman who could not imagine all that life would bring her way. She remembers seeing a sign on Water Street in Springfield that said “Philanthropist: lover of mankind.”

“I saw that and knew, at 18, that’s what I wanted to be,” she says. “It was just simple. It spoke to my heart.”

Now 71, her life is filled with accomplishments both personal and professional. But her generosity has been constant. It continues today with her support of the Mercy Health Foundation Clark & Champaign Counties.

“Giving is just me, it’s my life,” Sheila says. “I give because I love my friends, I love the community I live in. I just love people.”

Sheila served on many leadership boards in Springfield, including the Mercy Health Foundation Board. She has continued to give because she admires its leadership and community outreach.

“They are very intentional and inclusive,” she says. “It’s a place for lovers of mankind.”