$20M Donated To Local Children's Hospital In Largest-Ever Gift

BAYSIDE, QUEENS — A local children's hospital received a $20 million donation from its board co-chair, marking the organizations largest-ever donation.

Cindy S. Johnson, who donated millions to St. Mary's Healthcare System for Children, said that she is proud to support the Bayside hospital's services for children with complex healthcare needs.

"There is simply no place like St. Mary's," she said in a statement, adding that she hopes her gift will give "the talented professionals at St. Mary’s the freedom to design a better model of care for reaching those who need help the most."

The hospital's award-winning services for children with special needs, including its intensive in-patient care and medical day care program, are not offered anywhere else in New York City.

These services, however, come at a steep price, which often exceeds the cost of what families are able to afford and what Medicaid will cover — a burden that will be lessened by this donation (among others), according to Dr. Edwin Simpser, President and CEO of St. Mary's Healthcare System for Children.

"The families of St. Mary’s will never forget this incredibly generous gift," he said, adding, "this donation will allow us to expand our innovative programs and continue to fund remote services delivery, which has truly saved lives during the pandemic."

St. Mary's started offering Zoom sessions with its different therapists during the pandemic, and aims to continue to do so in the future, since remote options serve a broader community, according to the hospital.

Related Article: Baysiders Raise $400K For St. Mary's Families, Services