LOS ANGELES — Children’s Hospital Los Angeles announced today that longtime supporters Marion and John E. Anderson have made a $50 million transformative gift for its new state-of-the-art hospital building. In honor of the couple’s generosity, the new hospital building will open its doors on July 10 as the Marion and John E. Anderson Pavilion. It will be the most technologically advanced pediatric and adolescent hospital in the nation, leading the way for a new generation of care.
“We are thrilled beyond words by Marion and John’s gift, the latest in a long line of generous support from these two leaders of the Los Angeles philanthropic community,” said Richard D. Cordova, FACHE, president and chief executive officer of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. “Marion has been one of the key leaders of this institution for the past two decades, and the Andersons’ philanthropic support is just one aspect of how they’ve helped make us the best children’s hospital in the West.”
“We feel so fortunate to be able to make this gift to the children of Southern California and beyond,” said Marion. “Children’s Hospital Los Angeles saves lives and offers hope to tens of thousands of children and families each year. This gift is our way of saying thank you to everyone at the hospital. Their work is amazing and John and I can’t think of a more deserving institution.”
In addition to serving on Children’s Hospital Board of Trustees since 1989, Marion co-chaired the Living Proof: the Campaign for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, launched in 2003 to raise funds to build the new hospital and provide vital support for The Saban Research Institute as well as clinical and research programs. Under her leadership, the campaign raised more than $1 billion, making it not only the most successful fundraising effort in Children’s Hospital history, but also the only single fundraising campaign by a freestanding, independent children’s hospital to raise $1 billion.
“Marion and John have been committed to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and this campaign from day one,” said John D. “Jack” Pettker, Marion’s co-chair on the hospital’s Board of Trustees and the Living Proof Campaign. “After 22 years of service, they are still showing their dedication and leadership with this most extraordinary gift. It’s been such a pleasure to partner with her and to witness the passion that she and John share for this great hospital.”
Regarding their continued dedication to the hospital, Marion says the pleasure has been all hers. “This has been a labor of love, and I’ve had such great partners on this journey.”
The new hospital building at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles will open to patients on July 10. The $636 million, 317-bed state-of-the-art facility will further expand services as well as increase the ability to provide family-centered care to children throughout the region. Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is one of the nation’s best children’s hospitals serving more than 97,000 patients each year and offering care from some of the world’s most prestigious physicians and surgeons.
The Andersons have been community supporters for many years. John is chairman of Topa Equities, Ltd., which owns more than 42 businesses involved in agriculture, insurance, real estate, wholesale beverage distribution and automotive dealerships. Marion is vice chairman of Topa Equities, Ltd., and is an active member of the University of California, Los Angeles Anderson board of visitors. John and Marion are life-long supporters of the YMCA of Greater Los Angeles. Marion also serves Children’s Hospital as a member of the steering committee of the New Hospital Campaign Committee at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and a member of the Development Advisory Campaign Cabinet and the Saban Research Institute Committee.
About Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
Founded in 1901, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is one of the nation’s leading children’s hospitals and is acknowledged worldwide for its leadership in pediatric and adolescent health. The Saban Research Institute at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is among the largest and most productive pediatric research facilities in the United States, with 88 investigators at work on 171 laboratory studies, clinical trials and community-based research and health services. Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is a premier teaching hospital and has been affiliated with the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California since 1932.
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