Miami children's hospital to bear Nicklaus name
MIAMI (AP) - A decade after Jack Nicklaus began a foundation aimed at children's health, a Miami health care system is changing the name of its main hospital to the Nicklaus Children's Hospital.
Miami Children's Health System and the Nicklaus Children's Health Care Foundation on Tuesday announced a $60 million pledge. Part of the money will be used to build a 212,000-square-foot Advanced Pediatric Care Pavilion, with construction already started.
The Nicklaus Children's Hospital is a 289-bed private hospital and the flagship of a network that has eight outpatient centers. Those centers, part of the Miami Children's Health System, also will bear the Nicklaus name.
Nicklaus, who set the modern standard in golf with his 18 major championship, and wife Barbara launched their foundation in 2004 and began working closing with Miami's Children in 2010. They have five children and 22 grandchildren.
Barbara Nicklaus recently was selected for the USGA's highest honor, in part because of her work in children's health.
"The health and well-being of children have always been a primary focus for us," the Nicklauses said in a statement. "Miami Children's Hospital has been a wonderful partner. Our collaboration with Miami Children's Health System in serving children in Palm Beach County has led us to seek additional opportunities to make a difference. We are proud and incredibly humbled by the decision to place our family name on the hospital.
"To us, there is no higher calling than to help children in need of medical care, hope and healing."