The recession is not going to stop the Howard County General Hospital’s expansion plans or keep it from reaching its $30 million goal in philanthropic donations.
The Howard Hospital Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the hospital, has $20.6 million in gifts and pledges, which will go toward the $105 million, 233,656-square-foot project, according to hospital officials.
The remainder of the project will be funded through bonds and the hospital’s retained earnings.
“We’re continuing our drive despite the economic downturn, which is really affecting all nonprofits,” said Christopher J. McCabe, the foundation’s vice president of development. “I continue to be gratified that people are still stepping up to the plate.”
Earlier this fall, the foundation received $1 million donations each from J.P. and Evelyn T. Bolduc and The Lundy Family Foundation in Columbia.
“Having had the opportunity to observe from the inside, as a trustee of the hospital and board chair of the Howard Hospital Foundation, I am convinced that HCGH is one of the most important institutions serving our entire community,” Evelyn Bolduc said in a statement.
The hospital will name the new rehabilitation and physical therapy center at the hospital The Bolduc Family Outpatient Center in honor of the Bolducs and recognize the Lundys with The Lundy Family Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
So far, Howard County government has been the largest donor to the campaign with $7 million, followed by the Horizon Foundation with $4.2 million, McCabe said.
There have been 110 gifts of $2,500 or higher, officials said.
Hospital officials said the construction project is progressing well.
The first part of the project, a new 542-space, five-level parking garage, was already completed in August.
Construction is nearing completion on a new four-story, five-level patient tower that will include 90 beds in all private rooms in the surgical, cardiac/telemetry and medical/surgical units.
Beth Plavner, the project manager, said she anticipates the tower opening in phases, with the basement and first floor, comprised of the support departments and outpatient center, to open next July. In August, the rest of the floors are expected to open.
The other major part of the project, and most expensive, are the significant renovations on the existing 123,000 square feet of current hospital space.
“We’re making more than steady progress, but significant progress,” McCabe said.
It’s hoped that the campaign for public and private philanthropic donations continues until the entire hospital project is completed some time in mid-2011, officials said.
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