ROME — Rome Hospital Foundation announced it has received a donation for $1.3 million from the Dorothy G. Griffin Charitable Foundation to support the opening of a new cardiovascular center at Rome Memorial Hospital. The foundation said it’s the largest donation it has received in its 24-year history. “We are incredibly grateful to the Dorothy […]
ROME — Rome Hospital Foundation announced it has received a donation for $1.3 million from the Dorothy G. Griffin Charitable Foundation to support the opening of a new cardiovascular center at Rome Memorial Hospital. The foundation said it’s the largest donation it has received in its 24-year history.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Dorothy G. Griffin Charitable Foundation for their extremely generous and transformational contribution,” Becky D’Aiuto, executive director of the Rome Hospital Foundation, said in a news release. “Rome Hospital Foundation works every day to support the hospital in their mission to provide quality care close to home. We have been fortunate that Dorothy G. Griffin shared in and supported the importance of that mission.”
The cardiovascular center at Rome Memorial Hospital will be named in honor of Dorothy G. Griffin. The Dorothy G. Griffin Cardiovascular Center will provide the “optimal” space, medical equipment, and technology necessary to provide expanded cardiac services for the residents of the Greater Rome community, the foundation said. Cardiologists from St. Joseph’s Health and Central New York Cardiology will provide care to their patients at the cardiovascular center.
“The statistics related to the impact of heart disease are staggering and the needs for cardiac care increase every year,” David Lundquist, Rome Memorial Hospital president and CEO, said in the release. “The ability to open a cardiovascular center in Rome will allow us to expand our cardiac care services to meet our patient needs.”
Dorothy G. Griffin, along with her brother Bill, operated a multi-million-dollar business in Rome, Varflex Corporation. Bill Griffin continues to run the business, which manufactures braided fiberglass electrical insulating sleeving. Dorothy Griffin, who passed away in March 2015, was an active community advocate who recognized the needs of the community and was committed to giving back to the area where she had helped grow a successful business, per the release. Rome Hospital Foundation said it named its leadership-giving program as a tribute to her generosity.
Rome Hospital Foundation is a separate 501 (c)(3) organization that accepts gifts on behalf of Rome Memorial Hospital and works to fund both present and future equipment and program needs.
