Hassenfeld family, NYU Langone unveil $50M gift to create new pediatric hospital

Oct 3 2011

NYU Langone Medical Center and the Hassenfeld family unveiled a $50 million gift today that will create a comprehensive pediatric hospital at NYU Langone Medical Center. The $50 million gift from the Hassenfeld family, led by longtime NYU Langone Medical Center trustee Sylvia Hassenfeld, spans three generations and underscores the family's belief in both giving back and to children.

"This is a momentous occasion for our medical center and New York's children, and we are truly thankful to Sylvia Hassenfeld and her family for their longstanding commitment, dedication and generosity," said Robert I. Grossman, MD, dean and CEO of NYU Langone Medical Center. "Their extraordinary gift to create the Hassenfeld Pediatric Center begins a new era of children's health care in New York and helps ensure bright futures for countless children, our most precious patients, and their families."

The announcement was made during a festive celebration at the Intrepid Sea, Air, & Space Museum with over 1,000 children, parents and grandparents in attendance, including Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Barbara Walters, who served as the mistress of ceremonies at the family-friendly event.

"We've made enormous strides over the last ten years in improving comprehensive health services that will help more of our children enjoy successful, fulfilling lives," said Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. "With the generous help of the Hassenfeld family, NYU Langone Medical Center will create a state-of-the-art pediatric facility that makes a difference in the lives of those we care about most."

The gift will help create the Hassenfeld Pediatric Center, a new 160,000 square foot state-of-the-art pediatric hospital on the Medical Center's main campus on the east side of Manhattan. Integral to the design of the pediatric hospital will be all private rooms, making it the only pediatric inpatient facility in Manhattan to have this feature. Private rooms increase patient safety by decreasing exposure to infections, as well as serve to provide a private, supportive environment for the patients and their families. In addition, the new Hassenfeld Pediatric Center will boast:

• A separate, dedicated Hassenfeld Pediatric Center entrance on 34th Street and 1^st Avenue, featuring a child-friendly lobby
• Child-friendly pre-operative unit consisting of private, pre-op preparation and recovery bays, with space for family at the bedside, along with pediatric ORs, a catheterization lab, and two procedure rooms
• Dedicated acute pediatric inpatient and pediatric critical care units where each of the 68 private rooms will have their own en suite bathrooms, as well as include a "family zone" featuring a sleep-in couch, storage, and Web access
• A Family Center for orientation activities for patients, space for child-life activities and performances, as well as support, education, and respite services for families

The Hassenfelds' devotion to children, particularly those most vulnerable, is a family tradition. It stems from their four-generation family commitment to community philanthropy, health care, and their business, Hasbro, Inc., the world's second-largest toy company.

"The well being of children is one of our great passions," said Sylvia Hassenfeld. "The first toys Hasbro made were doctor and nurse kits. I like to think that, with those, we inspired some youngsters who are now practicing pediatric medicine at NYU Langone. This gift is special to me, and to my family as it ensures our commitment to children's health and well being for generations to come."

Sylvia Hassenfeld, her children, Alan Hassenfeld and Ellen Hassenfeld Block, and her grandchildren, Susan Block Casdin, Laurie Block, and Michael Block have been deeply involved with NYU Langone for many years. The family has funded and continues to support NYU Langone's Stephen D. Hassenfeld Children's Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders. In addition, Susan Block Casdin founded the Hassenfeld Committee, which is instrumental in raising funds to support critical psycho-social support services at the Hassenfeld Center and the Department of Pediatrics.

The gift also supports the full array of children's health services across the Medical Center where neonates, children, adolescents and young adults receive the most comprehensive and advanced care by a team of pediatricians and pediatric specialists across more than 30 pediatric medical and surgical disciplines ranging from cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery to hematology and oncology to reconstructive plastic surgery and urology. With more than 150 full-time pediatric specialists, as well as pediatric nurses, child life specialists, and social workers, NYU Langone is uniquely equipped to provide innovative subspecialty care in a highly personalized manner.

The facility will be located within the new Helen L. and Martin S. Kimmel Pavilion, scheduled to open in late 2017.

Source: NYU Langone Medical Center