Comcast chief Brian Roberts has donated $125 million to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia to build a new patient tower and refurbish existing facilities.
The gift unveiled Thursday is the largest single donation made in the 170-year history of the hospital that was the first in the nation to focus on pediatric health. The donation from Roberts and his wife, Aileen Roberts, establishes Roberts Children’s Health, a 20-story inpatient tower that is expected to open in 2028.
Comcast has deep roots in Philadelphia and the Roberts family has been a supporter of Childrens’ Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) for decades. The announcement comes on what would have been the 105th birthday of Comcast founder and patriarch Ralph Roberts, who died in 2015 at age 95.
“Our lives have been touched by Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in countless ways, and with this gift, we hope to deliver on Madeline’s vision for the future of pediatrics and inspire others to support this life-changing work happening right here in our backyard,” said Aileen and Brian Roberts said in a statement. “CHOP is already the world’s leading children’s hospital, where the best doctors, technology, and patient care come together to serve families. We’re honored and humbled to help ensure CHOP remains a magnet for the greatest medical talent, a refuge for those facing the most complex cases, an incubator for breakthrough treatments, a beacon of hope, and the pride of Philadelphia for decades to come.”
Robert Children’s Health include state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment facilities and what the hospital describes as a “reimagined and personalized patient experience.” It also promises to add more support and recreational services for patients and their families.
“At CHOP, we’re focused on finding answers to the toughest medical challenges so that every child has the chance for a healthier future. We wanted to create a space that could accommodate the needs of children now and for years to come,” said Madeline Bell, CHOP president and CEO. “Roberts Children’s Health will greatly enhance the hospital experience for our patients and their families, equip our staff with the latest innovations, and revolutionize how we provide care, all while continuing our long legacy of breakthroughs.”
Donations from the Roberts family previously helped establish the hospital’s Roberts Center for Pediatric Research, which opened in 2017, and the Roberts Collaborative for Genetics and Individualized Medicine at CHOP. That program is described as a “multidisciplinary approach to diagnostics, clinical management, consulting, therapeutics and research driven by the power of genetics.”
“We are extremely grateful for the continued generosity of the Roberts family. They have helped propel us to the forefront of pediatric genetics research,” Bell said. “Now, we’ll be able to translate that research into extraordinary care more quickly and help more children live healthier lives.”
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