Golisano Children’s Hospital receives major gift

A Sarasota-based foundation has pledged $5 million to Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida —with no strings attached.

That nonprofit, the Baycross Christian Family Foundation, is now challenging the community to follow its lead and match the gift to the hospital’s Little Red Wagon Fund, which supports its efforts to fulfill the region’s most critical pediatric health care needs. 

“At Baycross Christian Family Foundation, we’re especially passionate about Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida and its efforts to fulfill a growing need for pediatric health care in our region,” Shahla Simpler, executive director of Baycross Christian, says in a statement. “Our goal with this special gift is to challenge our community to raise an additional $5 million to support the Little Red Wagon Fund that provides hope and healing through strategic initiatives.”

Golisano Children’s Hospital has provided critical health care to the entire region. The hospital has implemented several life-changing pediatric initiatives and services including dialysis and burn services and a program to install automated external defibrillators in local schools. Based in Sarasota, Baycross Christian Family Foundation is a long-time supporter of Lee County-based Golisano Children’s Hospital, contributing to the hospital’s ongoing initiatives including its capital campaign and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Parent Support Group.