Sanford Health announced Wednesday it has received a $350 million gift from billionaire philanthropist T. Denny Sanford to create a virtual care center for rural and underserved areas of the Midwest.
“It is crucial we continue to break new ground in how we bring the best of today’s digital world directly to our patients, with seamless, convenient and world-class care for the communities we serve,” said Bill Gassen, president and CEO of Sanford Health, in a news release.
The announcement follows a $300 million initiative announced in March that included an expansion of graduate medical education and an investment in community health and wellness, with 18 new sports fields at the Sanford Sports Complex.
Since March, T. Denny Sanford has committed $650 million to supporting Sanford Health’s initiatives, bringing his total giving to the nation’s largest rural health care system to nearly $1.5 billion. The system is named in his honor.
“I am committed to seeing this initiative become a reality,” Sanford said in a news release. “I continue to give to Sanford Health because I believe that supporting the people and communities in the regions they serve is the best investment I can make.”
Sanford's gift of $400 million in 2007 propelled the health system from a small regional provider to one of the largest health systems in the nation.
