The 212,000 Square-Foot Care Center Marks a Significant Milestone in the Together For The Children Campaign, Aiming to Raise $150 Million
MIAM, FL, Aug. 26, 2015 – Today, Miami Children’s Health Foundation (MCH Foundation), the fundraising arm for Miami Children’s Health System (MCHS), along with more than 100 physicians, staff, donors, community members, elected officials and volunteers celebrated the structural “topping off” of a new six-story building that will soon become a centerpiece of the health system’s flagship Nicklaus Children’s Hospital campus.
The construction of the new 212,000 square-foot Advanced Pediatric Care Pavilion is one of the main priorities of the Together For The Children campaign, which aims to raise $150 million to serve patients and families at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. The new facility will make possible the relocation of Nicklaus Children’s Hospital’s three internationally recognized intensive care units (Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit) to a new state-of-the-art setting that will enhance the care environment and offer additional family-centered amenities.
“With this new facility, we will be able to impact and give hope to close to thousands of children on a yearly basis. We are overwhelmed that our community has come together in such an incredible way to make this dream a reality,” said Lucy Morillo, president and CEO, Miami Children’s Health Foundation. “Our goal is not only to help these children recover from illnesses, but to give them the resources they need to reach important milestones and achieve their full potential in health and in life.”
As part of the topping off ceremony, which celebrates a key construction milestone, the final steel beam, signed by members of the MCHS family, was placed on top of the structure, and Miami-Dade County District 6 Commissioner, Rebeca Sosa, issued a proclamation. A groundbreaking for the Advanced Pediatric Care Pavilion was held in December 2011, which was then followed by several predecessor projects designed to make way for the new building. The structure will be the first freestanding pediatric facility of its kind in South Florida, dedicated to the care of children with complex and specialized needs. The facility is being designed with guidance from patients, families and caregivers to ensure their needs are at the center of all the enhancements.
“We are thrilled to celebrate this significant milestone in a project that promises so many benefits for the children and families we are privileged to serve,” said Dr. Narendra Kini, CEO of Miami Children’s Health System. “This state-of-the-art facility will offer an enhanced care environment, and greater comfort and privacy for those receiving care in our critical care settings.”
The Advanced Pediatric Care Pavilion, which is projected to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2016, is expected to infuse approximately $90 million into the local economy and is creating approximately 678 new jobs in construction, manufacturing and transportation.
About Miami Children’s Health Foundation
Miami Children’s Health Foundation (MCH Foundation) is a not-for profit 501(c)(3) organization established to support the creation of a world-class pediatric hospital so no child needs to leave South Florida for superior medical care. “Funding World-Class Care” and following the principle that all children deserve state-of-the-art pediatric care, MCH Foundation, now a part of the Miami Children’s Health System, has helped the 289-bed Nicklaus Children’s Hospital become a leader in pediatric healthcare with more than 650 attending physicians and over 130 pediatric sub-specialists. Currently, MCH Foundation is dedicating all its resources to Together For The Children, The Campaign For Miami Children’s, which aims to raise $150 million by 2017 and help fund priorities such as the expansion of the Emergency Department, construction of a new Advanced Pediatric Care Pavilion, enhancements to its three centers of excellence, and expanding global/telehealth endeavors. Other campaign priorities include research, pediatric outreach and special programs.
About Nicklaus Children’s Hospital
Founded in 1950 by Variety Clubs International, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital – part of Miami Children’s Health System – is South Florida’s only licensed specialty hospital exclusively for children, with more than 650 attending physicians and over 130 pediatric sub-specialists. The 289-bed hospital is renowned for excellence in all aspects of pediatric medicine with several specialty programs ranked among the best in the nation in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015-16, by U.S. News & World Report. The hospital is also home to the largest pediatric teaching program in the southeastern United States and has been designated an American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet facility, the nursing profession’s most prestigious institutional honor. For more information, please visit www.nicklauschildrens.org.
