Officials at Torrance Memorial Medical Center announced Friday the largest collective donation in the history of the hospital: a $13.5 million gift that will mostly be used for construction of its new medical tower.
The bulk of the donation, announced at the hospital's annual Holiday Festival gala, comes from Donald and Priscilla Hunt of Manhattan Beach. The couple, who own and run a Lawndale-based real estate investment company, donated $11.5 million.
The hospital's auxiliary volunteer group also will give $1 million, and longtime hospital supporters Melanie and Richard Lundquist contributed another $1 million.
"We are very excited and grateful for this gift," said Craig Leach, president and chief executive officer of the hospital. "This is an exciting time at the hospital."
Torrance Memorial is in the midst of constructing a new seven-story patient tower expected to be complete and open for patients in early 2015. The project will cost an estimated $450 million.
The foundation that raises money for Torrance Memorial is now more than halfway toward a goal of raising $200 million over several years to pay for the tower and other projects.
"When donors give, it inspires others to do the same," said Laura Schenasi, executive director of the foundation. "They are part of this new tower, which is so very important to this community. With all the hospital closures, we want to make sure that we're here to meet the needs of the community."
Officials at Torrance Memorial said they are particularly grateful given that donations to hospitals around the country, among other charities, are down significantly due to the sluggish economy. The Association for Healthcare Philanthropy reported that donations to hospitals were down by nearly a billion dollars in 2009, and giving was meager last year as well.
Both Leach and Schenasi described the Hunts as "inspirational." The couple, particularly Donald Hunt, have received treatment at the facility for several years.
In a written statement, Priscilla Hunt said the hospital has been a big part of the community and her family for years.
"My grandchildren were born there and my husband was hospitalized there and received the best care possible," she said. "The doctors really showed compassion toward him and my family."
The Hunts run a real estate company called Hunt Enterprises Inc., which develops and manages residential property, along with storage facilities, shopping centers and industrial buildings.
In recognition of the couple's sizable donation, the hospital will name two centers to be housed in the new tower in their honor: the Donald and Priscilla Hunt Cancer Institute and the Donald and Priscilla Hunt Nuclear Medicine Center.
The combined $2 million from the Lundquists and the 850-member auxiliary group will be put toward a new healing garden in the main tower.
The hospital's previous record for a single donation was $13 million, given by the Lundquists three years ago to help pay for expansion of the emergency department and a new cardiovascular institute.