CLEVELAND -- The Rainbow Babies & Children’s Foundation (the Foundation) is giving University Hospitals’ Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital (Rainbow) $20.6 million, the largest single gift in Rainbow’s history. This significant contribution supports University Hospitals’ Vision 2010 strategic plan and Rainbow’s goal to be recognized as the leading children’s hospital in the nation.
The Foundation has been raising money and supporting Rainbow for more than a century. It traces its roots back to 1887, when nine young society women came together to form the Rainbow Circle of King’s Daughters, a sisterhood with a mission to help poor Cleveland children. The Rainbow Circle relied on funding from community organizations and civic leaders to help grow its hospital. When Rainbow Hospital merged with Babies and Children’s Hospital in 1974, the Rainbow Babies & Children’s Foundation was formed.
"This leadership gift is a call to action to the community, to inspire additional giving in support of this extraordinary community asset," said Ann C. O’Brien, president of the Foundation. "Rainbow’s rich history as a pioneer in pediatric medicine has always depended on the support and generosity of the community, and today is no different. Groundbreaking medical research and state-of-the-art technology and equipment, as well as providing emotional support and a caring environment for children, come with a price. It is critical that the Northeast Ohio community step up alongside the Foundation and support this amazing resource that we all are so blessed to have in our backyard."
The Foundation began as a small group of very strong women, and today remains a collaboration of committed civic-minded women who advocate for and support Rainbow.
"This transformational gift represents an unprecedented investment, which will help strategically position us to serve our nation’s children as one of the top -- if not the top -- children’s hospitals in the U.S.," said Fred C. Rothstein, M.D., President and CEO, University Hospitals of Cleveland.
This commitment will support key programs of strategic importance to Rainbow, including:
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Construction - $5 million
Rainbow has been the international leader in neonatology for decades. The space no longer meets the demand for Rainbow’s services. The new family-centered, state-of-the-art facilities will cost an estimated $25.2 million.
Endowed Chair Challenge - $5 million
The Foundation will contribute $500,000 for every $1 million donated toward an endowed chair.
This challenge will result in 10 new endowed chairs at $1.5 million each.
"This challenge is meant to inspire donors, by matching their contributions, to establish endowed chairs for physicians at Rainbow. Endowed chairs assist Rainbow in recruiting and retaining preeminent talent in pediatric medicine from around the world. With this support, Rainbow will continue to be at the forefront of pediatric medicine," said O’Brien.
Child Life Funding - $7 million
Supporting Child Life professionals, who make a significant difference to young patients and their families by helping them prepare for their medical experiences, has been a long-standing commitment of the Foundation.
Clinical Programs and New Initiatives - $3.6 million
"We are humbled by this extraordinary gift," said Avroy A. Fanaroff, M.D., chairman of pediatrics and chief medical officer at Rainbow. "The support of the community is precious to all of us at Rainbow, and with the Foundation’s generous support, we will be able to continue providing the absolute best care to the children of Cleveland -- and to many children around the world."