Philanthropist T. Denny Sanford Makes $10 Million Gift to the Walt Disney Pavilion at Florida Hospital for Children

ORLANDO, Fla., Nov. 20, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- In a special ceremony on a Florida Hospital rooftop, a sea of luminaries were released into the night sky to celebrate a significant gift to the Walt Disney Pavilion at Florida Hospital for Children. T. Denny Sanford, one of the nation's leading philanthropists, generously made a $10 million donation to support Florida Hospital with its mission to create a state-of-the-art pediatric hospital and provide a brighter future for children's health care. In honor of Sanford's gift to the hospital, Florida Hospital's medical office building for kids has been renamed the T. Denny Sanford Pediatric Center.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20101120/DC04738 )

"We are so excited to have Mr. Sanford join our Florida Hospital family and help us on our mission to not only create a beautiful place for our children to heal but also a world-class facility to inspire wellness," said Marla Silliman, administrator of Florida Hospital for Children. "This is such a special gift that demonstrates Mr. Sanford's continued commitment to providing the best health care possible for children."

The T. Denny Sanford Pediatric Center is located adjacent to the hospital at 615 E. Princeton St. and houses a wide variety of world-renowned pediatric specialists who provide care to patients at the Walt Disney Pavilion at Florida Hospital for Children.

"Children have no voice or way of telling their needs," said T. Denny Sanford. "We must hear and feel what they need and provide it for them to provide for a better world for the future. I live by a personal mission to 'aspire to inspire before you expire' and I think we can all live by that philosophy in some way."

Sanford's gift to the Walt Disney Pavilion at Florida Hospital for Children is his second significant gift made to a medical facility in Central Florida. Throughout the years, Sanford has made numerous donations to better the health of children across the country including: $400 million to Sanford Health in South Dakota; $20 million to the Burnham Institute for Medical Research in LaJolla, Calif., for the creation of the Sanford Children's Health Research Center; $15 million to the Mayo Clinic for a new pediatric outpatient facility and to create a collaboration between Sanford Children's and the Mayo Clinic; $15 million to the Children's Home Society, a South Dakota home for abused children. Most recently, Sanford donated $50 million to Burnham Institute for Medical Research in LaJolla, Calif. and Orlando which prompted a name change to the Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute.

"It takes many people to make the exciting things that we do at Florida Hospital possible," said Lars Houmann, president and CEO of Florida Hospital. "This includes physicians, nurses, staff, community members, board members and more. All of them have played a role in building this one-of-a-kind children's hospital. Today, I am so excited to celebrate another addition to the Florida Hospital family."

As Florida Hospital continues on its journey to become a medical destination for superior health care and biosciences, philanthropists like Sanford help make this journey possible.

"In order to remain on the cutting-edge of health care, Florida Hospital needs the philanthropic support of individuals such as Mr. Sanford," said Des Cummings, president of the Florida Hospital Foundation. "His selflessness will enable Florida Hospital to continue to provide pre-eminent faith based health care for generations to come."

About the Walt Disney Pavilion at Florida Hospital for Children

The Walt Disney Pavilion at Florida Hospital for Children is a full-service facility served by more than 80 pediatric specialists, one of the largest panels of pediatric experts in Central Florida and a highly trained pediatric team of more than 600 employees. This unique children's hospital provides patients with private, family-centered pediatric rooms, a dedicated pediatric emergency department and an Advanced Center for Pediatric Surgery. The Walt Disney Pavilion at Florida Hospital for Children delivers a complete range of pediatric health services for younger patients including advanced surgery, oncology, neurosurgery, cardiology and transplant services; full-service pediatrics; and an innovative health and obesity platform. The recent expansion includes a seven-floor dedicated entrance, three-story lobby, and when completed in April 2011, the Walt Disney Pavilion at Florida Hospital for Children will have a total of more than 200 pediatric beds.

VIDEO: B-roll & sound (Broadcast quality - 16x9 h.264 mov) will be available at 8:30 p.m. on November 20th at http://floridahospital.tv/FHNewsFTP/SANFORD%20ANNOUNCEMENT/

www.floridahospitalnews.com

SOURCE Florida Hospital