Bon Secours announces historic gift to name Women’s Center
October 2, 2025
Naming Celebration Scheduled for This Weekend
Bon Secours St. Francis Health System will soon embark on a major renovation of its Women’s Center, transforming the fourth floor at its Eastside campus into a state-of-the-art environment for mothers, babies, and families.
To honor the generous donors who made this milestone possible, the ministry will host a celebration on Saturday, October 4, at 2 p.m. During the event, the health system will officially rename the center in recognition of the Friessle Family and their extraordinary gift that is one of the most significant in the 93 years of this ministry in Greenville.
The Friessle Family’s leadership gift is helping make possible a comprehensive renovation of the Women’s Center at Bon Secours St. Francis Eastside Hospital, funding critical medical equipment, state-of-the-art technology, and expanded support for the clinical team. These enhancements will create a modern, faith-centered environment designed to meet the evolving needs of mothers, babies, and families throughout the Upstate.
“Childbirth is one of life’s most profound moments,” said Erik Whaley, President of the Bon Secours St. Francis Foundation. “Thanks to the Friessle Family’s generosity, we can offer a space that matches the exceptional skill and compassion of our caregivers, ensuring that every mother and baby receives the very best start.”
Manfred and Christina Friessle have devoted their lives to philanthropy, championing education, healthcare, and faith-based initiatives both locally and abroad. Their support has built schools and hospitals in developing nations and strengthened programs addressing systemic poverty.
The renovated Friessle Family’s Women’s Center will feature advanced technology, improved lighting, and redesigned labor and delivery suites that foster comfort, safety, and spiritual support. These upgrades will allow the clinical team to deliver personalized, high-quality care for every mother and newborn.
The Friessle Family’s gift serves as a catalyst for the ministry’s broader campaign to modernize facilities, purchase new equipment, and sustain vital women’s health programs for generations to come. For more information or to join the campaign, visit GiveBSMH.org or call 864-255-1040.
Bon Secours – Greenville
Bon Secours St. Francis is part of Bon Secours Mercy Health (BSMH), one of the 20 largest health systems in the United States and the fifth-largest Catholic health system in the country. The ministry’s quality, compassionate care is provided by nearly 60,000 associates serving communities in Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, South Carolina, and Virginia, as well as in Ireland and the Philippines. Bon Secours Mercy Health provides care for patients nearly 14 million times annually through its network of more than 1,200 care sites, which includes 47 hospitals. In 2024, BSMH provided more than $600 million dollars in community investments across six states, ensuring cost is not a barrier to health care for our patients in need. Locally, Bon Secours St. Francis provides compassionate medical care to thousands of area residents through Bon Secours St. Francis Downtown and Bon Secours St. Francis Eastside, as well as a network of primary and specialty care practices, and ambulatory care sites across the Greenville region. The mission of Bon Secours St. Francis is to extend the compassionate ministry of Jesus by improving the health and well-being of our communities and bring good help to those in need, especially people who are poor, dying and underserved. For more information, visit BonSecours.com.
