BOCA RATON, FL – June 20, 2018 – Officials at Boca Raton Regional Hospital today announced that it will
name its existing inpatient facility the “Gloria Drummond Patient
Tower” in response to a transformational gift of $25 million from
noted philanthropist Elaine J. Wold and the Bay Branch Foundation.
Mrs. Wold’s commitment to the Hospital was made in April of this
year. At that time, she requested that a new, seven-story patient tower,
which is part of the Hospital’s proposed $260 million expansion
and renovation initiative, carry the name of Gloria Drummond, Boca Regional’s
founder and life-long friend of Mrs. Wold. While the structure, when completed,
will reflect that nomenclature, it was thought that Mrs. Wold’s
largesse – and wish – should be immediately recognized.
“With the magnitude of Elaine’s gift and her material and longstanding
support of our Hospital in other areas such as our Wold Family Center
for Emergency Medicine and the Gloria Drummond Physical Rehabilitation
Institute, we thought it most fitting to have her request realized now
and affix Gloria’s name to the present-day hospital as well,”
said Mark Larkin, President of Boca Regional’s Foundation.
Mrs. Wold’s friendship with Gloria Drummond spanned more than 40
years until Mrs. Drummond’s death in 2011. The tragic 1962 deaths
of Gloria’s children, Debbie and Randall, galvanized the community
to raise funds to build a local hospital – Boca Raton Community
Hospital, which opened in 1967. Mrs. Wold, who was integral to the success
of that campaign, still actively supports the Debbie-Rand Memorial Service
League that founded the Hospital, was its first philanthropic organization
and coordinates its robust volunteer services.
“Mrs. Wold’s generosity and commitment to Boca Raton Regional
Hospital has created an extraordinary legacy, one that will touch millions
of lives for generations to come,” said Jerry Fedele, President
and CEO of the Hospital. “By accelerating her selfless desire to
see Gloria Drummond’s name serve as the beacon for our campus, we
do well in honoring that legacy.”
Media Contacts:
Mark Larkin, 561.955.5204
President, Foundation
mlarkin@brrh.com
Tom Chakurda, 561.955.3586
Vice President, Marketing
tchakurda@brrh.com