Bethesda Memorial Hospital Receives Generous $5 Million Gift to Establish Institute for Rehabilitation Medicine

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Bethesda Memorial Hospital Receives Generous $5 Million Gift to Establish Institute for Rehabilitation Medicine


BOYNTON BEACH, Fla., Aug. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Bethesda Hospital Foundation, the fundraising arm of Bethesda Memorial Hospital, today announced the largest single gift in its history, a $5 million commitment from philanthropist George Cornell to establish a comprehensive, world-class, nationally recognized Institute for Rehabilitation Medicine. The new institute will be named in honor of George and his late wife, Harriet.

"My wife, Harriet, had polio at age 13 and physical therapy was a very important part of her rehabilitation," said George Cornell. "Our interest in helping provide a center with treatments that could help others, like she had experienced, blended perfectly with Bethesda's vision to expand and create a first-rate Institute for Rehabilitation Medicine."

George Cornell is a descendent of Thomas Cornell, an Englishman who sailed to America in 1638, and a distant cousin to Ezra Cornell, founder of Cornell University. A native of up state New York, he and his wife Harriet moved to Delray Beach in 1938. He attributes his generous spirit to his parents, who were philanthropic and long-time supporters of their local hospital.

"Receiving such an extraordinary gift is a testimony to both the excellence of the hospital today and its promise for the future," said Thomas J. Wolff, Bethesda Hospital Foundation Chairman. "We are grateful to Mr. Cornell for his generous support of Bethesda Memorial Hospital. And we hope this gift will inspire others in the community to step forward to help."

Bethesda's institute will offer treatment for children and adults with neurological, orthopedic, and physical disabilities, including amputation, back pain, hip fractures, multiple sclerosis, associated cardiac diseases, sports-related injuries, and stroke. The services provided will be offered on an inpatient and outpatient basis at both Bethesda Memorial Hospital's main campus and Bethesda Health City, the hospital's 120,000 square foot, free- standing medical mall in western Boynton Beach.

"Bethesda has been providing rehabilitation services for many years. Mr. Cornell's generosity will allow us to expand our scope of services to provide our community with a comprehensive, world-class rehabilitation center," said Robert B. Hill, Bethesda Memorial Hospital President and Chief Executive Officer.

Project costs for Bethesda's Institute for Rehabilitation Medicine are estimated at $9 million.

A conceptual timeline is in the development phase for the project, which includes a new 28-bed inpatient facility. Each room will have a sleeper sofa for the family's use during the patient's rehabilitation. A variety of amenities, including an outdoor area, will be available to assist patients in their healing process.

Bethesda Memorial Hospital and its affiliates have been committed to providing quality health services in a caring manner since it's opening in 1959. This 362-bed, not-for-profit community hospital and its affiliates offers a complete spectrum of services, including a world-class cancer facility, maternity and pediatric services, state-of-the-art radiology services, general and specialized surgical services, home health services, a women's health center, a diabetes resource center and wound care program.

Since it inception, the Bethesda Hospital Foundation has dedicated itself financially to supporting the hospital. At nearly the end of the second year of the $100 million Challenge Campaign, the Foundation has received commitments of $35 million in gifts and pledges. The majority of funds raised will support capital improvements, including doubling the size of the existing Emergency Department, the newly opened Bethesda Children's Center with a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, increasing private room capacity to 50 percent of total beds, and raising the overall hospital size by 80,000 square feet.

For more information about Bethesda Memorial Hospital or Bethesda Hospital Foundation's $100 million Challenge Campaign, please call 561-737-7733, ext. 4429, or visit our web site at www.bethesdaweb.com .