In the midst of an healthcare and economic crisis, Eddie and Candy DeBartolo have generously donated $7.65M to Tampa General Hospital in the last five months. The donation will assist in the treatment of patients in the Tampa Bay area that are diagnosed with infectious diseases including COVID-19. The funds will be used to develop a long-term dedicated COVID-19 unit, including the construction and equipment, and the necessary negative pressure isolation rooms and ventilators.
Photo: Eddie DeBartolo
“It is critical that, in times of need, our community members with the means to do so find ways to give back and support our first responders who are on the front lines of this battle,” said Eddie DeBartolo. “I have been so encouraged by the outpouring of love from our community and wanted to do something to honor these health care heroes.”
Additionally, the family donated $150,000 to the TGH Team Member Emergency Fund, which is a special fund designated to help team members in crisis who cannot afford to pay bills such as mortgage/rent, utilities or car payments due to the inability to work.
“It means so much to Tampa General Hospital to see the good that can come from our community during this time of crisis,” said John Couris, President & CEO of Tampa General Hospital. “Our team members, physicians and patients – and our entire community – will benefit for many years from this generous gift.”
The DeBartolos have been longtime supporters of Tampa General Hospital. In December, the family donated $5M in honor of Dr. Thomas Bernasek, an orthopedic surgeon on staff at Tampa General, and part of Florida Orthopedic Institute. Dr. Bernasek is also a board member of Tampa General.
“The TGH Foundation is so grateful to the DeBartolo family for their generosity over the years,” said Frann Richards, Chief Development Officer, Tampa General Hospital Foundation. “Their investment in Tampa General Hospital will do so many wonderful things for the community. The legacy the family is leaving will be seen for many years to come, not just during this pandemic. We applaud their donation, and their encouragement of others to follow suit.”
Tampa General Hospital, a 1007-bed non-profit academic medical center, delivers world-class care as the region’s only center for Level l trauma and comprehensive burn care. It is one of the nation’s busiest adult solid organ transplant centers and is the primary teaching hospital for the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine.
Learn more about Tampa General Hospital or ways to give at www.tgh.org/foundation.
