News

$10,000,000 NICU Campaign will support facility renovation and expansion

November 14, 2014 - The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) Foundation has announced the public phase of a $10,000,000 fundraising campaign in support of the University of Maryland Children’s Hospital (UMCH) Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) renovation and expansion project.

This project, funded in part by philanthropy, will increase the capacity of the NICU, tripling its current footprint in the medical center. Upon completion in 2015, the new NICU will seamlessly integrate leading-edge technology and family-centered care in a facility that will match the level of excellence in clinical and patient care of the highly regarded Children’s Hospital. “The enhanced environment of care will have a profound impact on our patients, families and caregivers” says Janice Eisele, Senior Vice President of the UMMS Foundation.

During the first phase of the campaign, more than 62 individuals, corporations and foundations have made contributions in excess of $6.5 million. This includes a lead gift by The Rouben and Violet Jiji Foundation to name the new NICU, which was announced last night at a special gathering of donors and supporters.

“We are so grateful to the Jiji Foundation, our generous donors, our Children’s Hospital Board of Visitors and other partners for making this extraordinary project a reality,” continues Eisele. “We look forward to engaging others as we move forward with this important project which will have a transformative impact for our tiniest and most fragile patients.”

To learn more about the NICU Campaign funding priorities and giving opportunities, please visit www.ummsfoundation.org/NICU.

To read more about The Rouben and Violet Jiji Foundation's gift to the NICU, click here.