Business & Tech

Howard Couple Gives $1M to Hospital Foundation

Sandy Berman and Kay Ota-Berman give donation to Howard Hospital Foundation's Campus Development Plan.

Citing a good relationship with Howard County General Hospital doctors and the comfortable environment the hospital has created, a Howard County couple has donated $1 million to the medical center's philanthropic foundation.

Dr. Sanford A. Berman and Dr. Kay Y. Ota-Berman made the generous donation to the Howard Hospital Foundation's Campus Development Plan, according to a press release from the foundation.

The hospital will name its main lobby atrium after the couple.

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“Giving to the hospital was an emotional decision for us," Sandy Berman said in the statement. "We gave because we have good relationships with our doctors and like the environment the hospital has created. There is no other place that we felt we would like to give."

The Bermans could not be reached for comment.

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The Campus Development Plan sought to raise $105 million for a comprehensive building and renovation project that included a new five-story patient pavilion with three new inpatient floors, a new outpatient center, a new pharmacy, larger operating rooms and a new parking garage.

The foundation was charged with raising $30 million of that amount from private philanthropic sources and has nearly reached its goal, according to Sandy Harriman, the foundation's vice president of development.

"We've raised $25 million and have pretty strong commitments for another $3 million," Harriman said Friday. "So we feel pretty confident we'll reach our goal."

The Bermans had indicated to one of their doctors how pleased they were with the care they received at Howard County General, and said they would like to make a gift, according to Harriman.

"We just had no idea how generous a gift it would be," she said. "It is an amazing gift that has really put a new boost in our morale."

Gifts of all sizes are important to the foundation and no gift is too small, according to Harriman.

One popular giving option available now is an engraved paver program. For $1,000, donors can have a brick paver engraved to honor or memorialize someone. All pavers will be installed in the hospital's entry garden, Harriman said.

"We appreciate all gifts," she said.

Visit the foundation's website for more information on how to donate.


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