The James M. Schoonmaker II Foundation recently made a generous $5 million gift to the NCH Rooney Heart Institute, furthering its mission to support advanced healthcare initiatives. This transformative donation will help expand NCH’s cutting-edge cardiac-care services, ensuring patients in Southwest Florida have access to the best providers, treatment options and technology available.
This gift continues the Schoonmaker Foundation’s longstanding partnership with NCH. In previous years, the Foundation has supported multiple projects, including the naming of a physician conference room and contributions to expand orthopedic care. The latest contribution will directly support the new home for cardiac and stroke services on the NCH Downtown Baker Campus, to be known as the R.M. Schulze Family Heart and Stroke Critical Care Center. The $265 million facility, funded almost entirely by philanthropy, will integrate complex and specialized care under one roof, elevating quality and patient experience.
“We are proud to continue our commitment to NCH and its mission to help everyone in our community live longer and healthier lives,” said Treecie Schoonmaker, chairman of the James M. Schoonmaker II Foundation. “This donation is a reflection of our belief in the power of modern medicine and the vital role that institutions like NCH play in improving health outcomes for all.”
“We are incredibly grateful to the Schoonmaker Foundation for this transformative gift,” said Paul Hiltz, President and CEO at NCH. “This extraordinary contribution will have a lasting impact on the lives of countless patients and their families, allowing us to continue providing world-class cardiovascular care. We are honored by their trust in our mission and excited about the future of heart health at NCH.”
The Schoonmaker Foundation gift brings the balance left to raise for the project to $72 million. NCH plans to formally break ground in February 2025 with an anticipated opening in 2027.
