The Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation and Miami Children’s Health System (MCHS) recently announced a $60 million pledge to support the sustained growth and advancement of the health system’s acclaimed Miami-based children’s hospital. In recognition, Miami Children’s Hospital — the flagship of Miami Children’s Health System — and its network of outpatient centers will bear the Nicklaus Children’s Hospital name, effective in March. “The health and well-being of children have always been a primary focus for us,” golf icon Jack Nicklaus and his wife, Barbara, said in a shared statement. “Miami Children’s Hospital has been a wonderful partner. Our collaboration with Miami Children’s Health System in serving children in Palm Beach County has led us to seek additional opportunities to make a difference. “We are proud and incredibly humbled by the decision to place our family name on the hospital,” they said. “To us, there is no higher calling than to help children in need of medical care, hope and healing.”
Dr. Narendra Kini, president and CEO of Miami Children’s Health System, said, “Jack and Barbara Nicklaus — through their Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation — are exceptional philanthropists whose generosity is legendary. Today’s announcement marks the cornerstone of a legacy that will have an enduring impact on children and families for generations to come, supporting the hospital in its mission as a world-class pediatric acutecare hospital. It is only fitting that our flagship hospital and growing network of outpatient centers will bear the Nicklaus name and honor the family mission to impact children and families throughout South Florida.”
Miami Children’s Hospital, which celebrates its 65th anniversary this year, has a long and distinguished tradition of serving children. The 289-bed private, non-profit freestanding hospital receives children from throughout Florida, the U.S. and more than 75 countries. It is renowned for excellence in all pediatric specialties and has more pediatric programs ranked among “America’s Best” by U.S. News & World Report than any other hospital in Florida.
Miami Children’s Health System also features a network of eight outpatient centers extending from southern Miami-Dade County to Palm Beach Gardens. Along with the hospital, these also will incorporate the Nicklaus name.
The $60 million pledge will make possible many enhancements for the hospital, including supporting construction of the planned 212,000-square-foot Advanced Pediatric Care Pavilion, now in progress. This new facility will include provisions for three new family-centered intensive care units. Funds also will support emergency and trauma preparedness, and enhance globally recognized centers for excellence at the hospital, including the Heart Program, Cancer Center and Miami Children’s Brain Institute.
Miami Children’s began collaborating with the Nicklaus Health Care Foundation in 2010, with the announcement of the creation of the Miami Children’s Hospital Nicklaus Care Center in western Palm Beach County, offering pediatric subspecialty consultations. In 2012, the two organizations celebrated the opening of the Miami Children’s Hospital Nicklaus Outpatient Center in Legacy Place in Palm Beach Gardens, which offers pediatric urgent care, rehabilitation services, imaging services and subspecialty appointments. In 2014, all Palm Beach County services were consolidated at the Palm Beach Gardens facility.
Jack and Barbara Nicklaus founded the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation in 2004 in an effort to provide families access to world-class pediatric healthcare in their own communities. The Foundation has grown from a vision to reality, supporting innovative programs focused on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of childhood illnesses.
For more information about Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation, visit nchcf.org. For more information about Miami Children’s Hospital, visit www.mch.com.
