MIAMI – (Sept. 1, 2011) – The Miguel B. Fernandez Family Foundation has announced a donation of $5 million to Miami Children's Hospital Foundation for the creation of a revolutionary new trauma center as part of the new emergency department at Miami Children's Hospital. 

The M.B. Fernandez Trauma Center at Miami Children’s Hospital Emergency Department will help improve patient outcomes and patient flow.

The trauma center expansion will allow the hospital to accommodate the growing number of patients from South Florida, Latin America and the Caribbean who rely on Miami Children’s Hospital in their greatest time of need.

“Because of our expertise and capability of treating children in the most life-threatening situations, we receive an increasing number of patients each year and we need to be able to grow,” said Dr. M. Narendra Kini, President & CEO, Miami Children’s Hospital. “This gift will help us – and the children – greatly.”

Miami Children's Hospital has one of only two pediatric trauma centers in Florida and is the only freestanding pediatric trauma center in South Florida. The hospital currently receives nearly 100,000 emergency department visits per year.
The M. B. Fernandez Family Foundation was established by Miguel B. "Mike" Fernandez to support worthy causes. Coral Gables-based Mike Fernandez is Chairman of MBF Healthcare Partners, LP, and is one of the country’s most successful health care entrepreneurs.
 
“We feel strongly that our community is extremely fortunate to have such an outstanding and unique pediatric facility,” said Mike Fernandez. “Miami Children's Hospital is an important key to the future of South Florida, from an economic, education and health perspective. Our family is proud to be able to help build a healthier future for all our children.”

This donation kicks off a fundraising campaign to support a new, larger emergency department, six-story bed tower and other projects at Miami Children’s Hospital. The new emergency department will be 42,335 sq. ft., more than double the size of the current unit, and will help reduce wait times. The new bed tower will be 205,000 sq. ft., with individual rooms for each patient.

“We are incredibly grateful to Mike and the Fernandez family for recognizing the need to support this valuable resource to the children and families of our community and beyond,” said Lucy Morillo-Agnetti, President & CEO, Miami Children's Hospital Foundation. “It is crucial to obtain the philanthropic support of donors to enhance Miami Children's Hospital’s emergency and other specialty pediatric services so we can continue to provide world-class pediatric care.”
 
About Miami Children's Hospital Foundation
Miami Children’s Hospital Foundation is a not-for profit 501(c)(3) established to create a world-class pediatric hospital so no child need leave South Florida for superior medical care. “Funding World-Class Care” and following the principle that all children deserve state-of-the-art pediatric care with no financial boundaries, the Foundation helped 289-bed Miami Children’s Hospital become a leader in pediatric health care with more than 40 subspecialties, the largest pediatric neurology center in the United States, a top provider of cardiology and neonatology services, and a Research Institute conducting in excess of 200 clinical trials and protocols.
 
Ten Miami Children's Hospital (MCH) pediatric specialty services are among the best in the nation, according to U.S.News & World Report's 2011-12 "America's Best Children's Hospitals" rankings. Miami Children's is the only hospital in Florida with programs listed in all 10 categories in which the publication offers rankings.
 
Miami Children’s Hospital is one of 170 pediatric hospitals in North America affiliated with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals® and South Florida’s only freestanding Hospital dedicated exclusively to children.  To learn more about the Foundation and offer support, visit www.mchf.org, become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MCHFoundation, or call 305.666.2889 (toll free: 1.800.987.8701).