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Lee Memorial Receives $20 Million Catalyst For Children’s Hospital

The Lee Memorial Health System is the recipient of what may be the largest philanthropic donation ever received in Southwest Florida – $20 million earmarked for construction of a children’s hospital.

The anonymous gift is contingent on matching funds from the community. CEO Jim Nathan says it moves the system significantly forward in its $100 million children’s hospital capital campaign. Right now a patchwork of services is available for children at Lee Memorial Health Park. Nathan said a successful campaign would allow the stand-alone facility to consolidate and expand care.

“We’re now completely out of space and for many times throughout the year we have to send children out of town and that’s just very unfortunate because the whole goal is to be able to care for these seriously ill children as close to home as possible.” he said.

Nathan says the challenge grant will work as a catalyst -- inspiring others to give by having their dollars matched. Groundbreaking on the 128-bed comprehensive pediatric care facility is tentatively scheduled for 2013.

Valerie Alker hosts All Things Considered. She has been a Reporter/Producer and program host at WGCU since 1991. She reports on general news topics in Southwest Florida and has also produced documentaries for WGCU-TV’s former monthly environmental documentary programs In Focus on the Environment and Earth Edition. Valerie also helps supervise WGCU news interns and contributes to NPR programs.