Our History
Currently known as the Alamo Building, the new City Miami Hospital opened its doors on June 25, 1918. Decades later, organized fundraising in support of the hospital began and paved the way for establishing Jackson Health Foundation.
JHF® – About Jackson Health Foundation
Jackson Health Foundation®, a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization, is the fundraising arm of Jackson Health System, the most comprehensive healthcare provider in South Florida. Through the generosity of compassionate donors, the Foundation financially assists the health system in providing world-class medical care to children and adults in South Florida and the global community.
As one of the nation’s most extensive public health systems, Jackson receives a tremendous level of support from Miami-Dade County residents. However, taxpayer dollars cannot cover all costs. There are gaps. Financial gifts to the Foundation’s Miracle Fund provide flexible funding for the health system’s greatest needs in the areas of patient care, treatment, education, and renovation of facilities and capital projects, designed to improve health care delivery, enhance the hospital experience for patients, and promote wellness and preventive medicine.
In addition, several of the Foundation’s giving programs provide educational services, such as classes, workshops, presentations, and lectures, to heighten public awareness about Jackson Health System, its services and programs.
The Foundation is governed by a volunteer board of directors committed to philanthropic activities that benefit the health system. Although fundraising for Jackson initially began in 1987, supporters formally established the Jackson Memorial Foundation in 1991. The organization was renamed Jackson Health Foundation in 2014 to align more closely with Jackson Health System.
Since 1987, the Foundation has raised more than $200 million to help Jackson Health System deliver the best possible care. Your gifts help ensure that Jackson will be able to advance emerging research, renovate or build state-of-the-art facilities, and continue to provide accessible healthcare services that are critically important to the quality of life and health of our shared communities.
Thank you for helping to make Miracles Happen for Jackson Health System.
JHF® – About Jackson Health Foundation
Jackson Health Foundation®, a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization, is the fundraising arm of Jackson Health System, the most comprehensive healthcare provider in South Florida. Through the generosity of compassionate donors, the Foundation financially assists the health system in providing world-class medical care to children and adults in South Florida and the global community.
As one of the nation’s most extensive public health systems, Jackson receives a tremendous level of support from Miami-Dade County residents. However, taxpayer dollars cannot cover all costs. There are gaps. Financial gifts to the Foundation’s Miracle Fund provide flexible funding for the health system’s greatest needs in the areas of patient care, treatment, education, and renovation of facilities and capital projects, designed to improve health care delivery, enhance the hospital experience for patients, and promote wellness and preventive medicine.
In addition, several of the Foundation’s giving programs provide educational services, such as classes, workshops, presentations, and lectures, to heighten public awareness about Jackson Health System, its services and programs.
The Foundation is governed by a volunteer board of directors committed to philanthropic activities that benefit the health system. Although fundraising for Jackson initially began in 1987, supporters formally established the Jackson Memorial Foundation in 1991. The organization was renamed Jackson Health Foundation in 2014 to align more closely with Jackson Health System.
Since 1987, the Foundation has raised more than $200 million to help Jackson Health System deliver the best possible care. Your gifts help ensure that Jackson will be able to advance emerging research, renovate or build state-of-the-art facilities, and continue to provide accessible healthcare services that are critically important to the quality of life and health of our shared communities.
Thank you for helping to make Miracles Happen for Jackson Health System.
Milestone Donations
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2016
2015
2014
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2005
2004
2003
2000
1998
1994
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1991
1987
One Day for Jackson inagural day of giving took place on April 4. The community rallied to raise more than $550,000 to support the most advanced treatments, innovative technology, and cutting-edge facilities to help Jackson give patients their lives back.
VIP Universal Medical Insurance (VUMI) also made a contribution of $4 million to Jackson Memorial Hospital and José Milton at Jackson West Medical Center.
The Batchelor Foundation made a $1 million contribution to support the expansion and renovation of the pediatric emergency room at Holtz Children’s Hospital.
In 2022, Jackson Health System received a $16 million grant from Shriners Children’s to build the Shriners Children’s Orthopedic Center at UHealth Jackson Children’s Care on the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center campus. $1 million gifts were also received from Hess Foundation, Inc., to create the Hess Family Milk Bank for babies in the neonatal intensive care unit at Holtz Children’s Hospital and from Trish and Dan Bell to support construction of a new emergency department – to be one of the largest in the nation – at Jackson Memorial Hospital.
Holtz Children’s Hospital was the beneficiary of a $1 million gift from an anonymous donor in early 2021. Shortly after the opening of the Critical Care Pavilion at Jackson Memorial Hospital in March, an anonymous donor made a $10 million contribution to support care and services at the new facility, which was subsequently named the UHealth/Jackson Critical Care Pavilion.
As our community faced the enormous challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Jackson Health Foundation was able to raise $8.5 million in funding and in-kind gifts to provide for much-needed medical equipment such as ventilators, IV pumps, PPE, and specialized laboratory PCR testing machines. The community came together to provide more than 20,000 meals, 340,000 pieces of PPE, and temporary housing to assist our healthcare teams during these trying times.
On October 26, Jackson Health Foundation hosted groundbreaking ceremonies celebrating the $10 million gift from the José Milton Foundation to name the 100-bed hospital Jackson is building on its new medical campus in the City of Doral. The facility will be known as the José Milton Memorial Hospital at UHealth Jackson. On August 1, Jackson Health Foundation and Jackson Health System announced a $2.5 million gift from Leon Medical Centers for naming rights of Jackson South Community Hospital’s new fourth floor. The donation also includes future naming rights at the new José Milton Memorial Hospital at UHealth Jackson. Also in 2016, the Foundation received a $1 million gift from the Heat Foundation and a $500,000 gift from the Micky and Madeleine Arison Family Foundation.
Jackson Health System is a world-class hospital system that attracts patients from around the globe. In 2015, Jackson Health System formed a partnership with VIP Universal Medical Insurance Group (VUMI) to provide medical services to Jackson’s international patients. VUMI launched this new partnership with a $2 million gift to Jackson Health Foundation’s Miracle Fund. In recognition of that gift, Jackson’s international patient center was renamed the VUMI International Patient Center. Also in 2015, the Ryder System Charitable Foundation continued its support for the Ryder Trauma Center by making a $1 million pledge to enhance trauma services. In addition, Jackson Health System broke ground for the new Christine E. Lynn Rehabilitation Center for The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis at UHealth/Jackson Memorial. Christine E. Lynn, whose generous donation of $25 million helped spearhead the fundraising for the center, was on hand to ceremonially groundbreaking.
Miami aviation industry pioneer George Batchelor was a strong supporter of the pediatric care programs at Jackson Memorial Hospital for many years. Through the Batchelor Foundation, his family has continued that support, and in 2014, made a $2.5 million gift to support renovations of the Pediatric Transplant Unit at Holtz Children’s Hospital. Their generous contribution helped advance programs that support the treatment of pediatric cancer, chronic illness, and organ transplants at Holtz Children’s Hospital.
Harvey and Roberta Chaplin have been active Golden Angels and generous donors to the Jackson Health Foundation for many years. In 2012, they made a $2.5 million gift to establish the Roberta Orlin Chaplin Digital Breast Imaging Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital.
Jackson Memorial Foundation helped complete the playground at the Debbie School at the Mailman Center. Jackson Memorial also celebrated a $2 million renovation of its pathology laboratories, subsequently named Coulter Clinical Pathology Laboratories. The renovation was part of a landmark $5 million gift from the Coulter Family and Wallace H. Coulter Foundation for the advancement of pathological sciences. DryClean USA fonder Bill Steiner and his wife, SheiLa, made a $1 million gift in support of cancer research at Jackson Health System. In recognition of this donation, the Jackson Memorial main lobby was renovated and renamed the Bill and SheiLa Steiner Family Lobby. In addition, Jackson celebrated the new Leon and Serena Simkins Center for Thyroid and Neuroendocrine Tumors. Thanks to the Simkins’ $1 million contribution, Jackson Memorial Foundation had the resources to create this research and treatment facility for Dr. Seza Gulec at Jackson North Medical Center.
Jackson Memorial Foundation celebrated the Nat Galley and Gertrude Galley Glucksman Chapel renovation. The Pediatric Emergency Room also underwent an extensive reconfiguration and modernization made possible by a generous $1 million gift by Harvey and Roberta Chaplin. The Foundation honored the Chaplins by naming this facility the Chaplin Family Pediatric Emergency Room.
After 15 years, the Pedi Dialysis Unit received a much-needed renovation. In a dedication, attended by supporters who helped raise $1 million, the Foundation unveiled the new unit, which featured separate treatment rooms for acute emergencies, a renovated nurses’ station, a private room for family education and counseling, and a patient-friendly waiting room. This unit treats more than 5,000 infants, children, and adolescents annually.
Jackson Memorial Foundation celebrated the dedication of the Angela and Pablo Andrade Family Lounge in the West Wing 12th floor of Jackson Memorial Hospital.
Jackson Memorial Foundation teamed up with Project New Born to fund extensive remodeling and modernization of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Part A Renovation at Holtz Children’s Hospital. Bank of America donated $750,000 to support the renovation of the 18-bed unit, completed in 2006. The Pediatric Intensive Care Unit is an incredible resource, made possible in part with a $1 million gift from Carnival Cruise Lines.
With the Guardian Angels’ philanthropic support, the Adolescent Unit, located on the 4th floor of the Ryder Trauma Center, was renovated in 2005. That same year, a marketing and branding campaign was launched for Holtz Children’s Hospital.
Jackson Memorial Foundation created a new entrance, lobby, and signage for Holtz Children’s Hospital.
Jackson Memorial Foundation sponsored two child life specialist positions at Holtz Children’s Hospital and created a Pedi Dialysis Unit playground. The Foundation also established the Children’s Cancer Fund Meal Assistance Program to assist children whose families could not afford to purchase a meal during their long hours of outpatient chemotherapy. The Guardian Angels supported a $1 million renovation of the Pediatric Referral Unit/Pediatric Transplant Surgical Unit on the 6th floor of the Holtz Children’s Hospital. The Foundation celebrated the dedication of the Taylor Breast Health Center, thanks to a $500,000 contribution from the Jack Taylor Family Foundation. The center provides screening and treatment for breast cancer patients, regardless of their ability to pay.
A $500,000 gift from Elizabeth and Mitchell Taylor paved the way to establishing a community telemedicine consulting and education center. The Elizabeth and Mitchell Taylor Conference Center is a central facility for UM/Jackson Memorial Medical Center, created for specialists to conduct virtual clinics and provide instant link-ups for emergency consultations with the Ryder Trauma Center. The Foundation also supported the South Florida Cleft and Craniofacial Clinic and funded a pediatric admissions orientation video. The Fetal Imaging Center also was created in 2000. In addition, Jackson Memorial Foundation led a $400,000 fundraising effort to build and equip the only unit in South Florida, Latin America, and the Caribbean to provide in-utero diagnosis and surgery for fetal abnormalities.
A group of dedicated philanthropists created The Guardian Angels philanthropic group to support Holtz Children’s Hospital. Silvia Rios Fortun has served as president of the group since its inception. The Children’s Hospital (the largest in South Florida) opened in 1983 and was renamed Holtz Children’s Hospital in March 1998, as the result of a $5 million naming gift from The Fana Holtz Foundation. The Holtz family continues to provide strong support for the Jackson Health Foundation and Holtz Children’s Hospital and remains dedicated to advancing quality pediatric care in Miami-Dade County.
Jackson created the Pediatric Bone Marrow Unit and moved the Pediatric Dialysis Unit to a new, larger, renovated location.
The Ryder System Charitable Foundation provided a $2.5 million naming gift to fill a critical community need by building a Level 1 Trauma Center.
Jackson Memorial Foundation was officially established.
Local philanthropists began fundraising efforts in support of Jackson Memorial Hospital.
*Footnote – Jackson Memorial Foundation was renamed Jackson Health Foundation in 2014 to more closely align with Jackson Health System brand.