The Mario Lemieux Foundation Grants $2 Million to The Children’s Home of Pittsburgh; Landmark Gift Will Provide for Lemieux Family Center
PITTSBURGH, Sept. 7, 2007 – The Mario Lemieux Foundation today announced a $2 million gift to The Children’s Home of Pittsburgh in Pittsburgh, PA. The largest contribution ever made to the 112-year-old organization, this gift will name the family living center in the new facility and three Austin’s Playrooms.
The Foundation’s gift will support the expansion of The Children’s Home’s three existing programs: Adoption, Transitional Infant Care (T.I.C.(R)) Hospital and Child’s Way(R), enable the organization to consolidate all of its services to one location, and provide for much needed additional space. The gift will also support the development of a new program — Pediatric Transitional Care — which will provide transitional care, respite and hospice care for pediatric patients who are technology dependent and who may suffer from life threatening illnesses.
The new Children’s Home of Pittsburgh and Lemieux Family Center campus will be located at 5324 Penn Avenue in the Friendship area of Pittsburgh. The project is scheduled to break ground in late fall of 2005. The three-story building, which is being designed by Pittsburgh architectural firm Perkins Eastman, will total 63,000 square feet.
“This generous contribution will have a tremendous impact on The Children’s Home’s ability to meet its mission and continue to provide unique services that focus on the family,” commented William M. Wycoff, chairman of the Board of Directors. “This is a seminal event, a true turning point in securing the philanthropic support necessary to make a real difference in our community. It takes charitable contributions such as this to make an impact on the care of fragile children and families in our region.”
The Mario Lemieux Foundation was created in 1993 by hockey legend Mario Lemieux to support cancer research and other important medical initiatives. The Lemieux Foundation has also established the Playroom Project initiative, in honor of Mario and Nathalie Lemieux’s healthy son, Austin, who was born prematurely. The Playroom Project seeks to benefit families and improve the quality of a child’s hospital experience whether a visitor or a patient.
“The Lemieux Foundation has always been committed to children and the city of Pittsburgh. We sincerely believe that this gift will help The Children’s Home of Pittsburgh meet the increasing need for their programs while continuing to provide critical healthcare services,” said Tom Grealish, President and Executive Director of the Mario Lemieux Foundation. “With this gift, it is our hope and goal that this outstanding organization will continue its dedication to the unique needs of the kids in our community,” added Nathalie and Mario Lemieux. “More importantly, it will impact the lives of thousands of children and their families for many years to come.”
About The Children’s Home of Pittsburgh:
The Children’s Home of Pittsburgh is the only facility of its kind in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Established in 1893, The Children’s Home of Pittsburgh is an independent, non-profit licensed organization whose purpose is to promote the health and well-being of infants and children through services which establish and strengthen the family. These programs include an Adoption Program serving infants, birthparents and persons seeking to adopt…a Transitional Infant Care (T.I.C.) Hospital serving premature and high-risk infants and their families … and Child’s Way, a pediatric extended care center serving medically fragile infants and children. For further information, please call 412-441-4884 or visit www.
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