In a recent Board of Directors meeting, the Ocean Reef Community Foundation approved a $1 million grant in advance of the groundbreaking for the much-needed Homestead Hospital expansion. Homestead Hospital serves as a crucial healthcare lifeline for Homestead and the Keys, which are isolated from major medical centers and advanced services. With the population of Homestead expected to grow by 50,000 over the next few years, Baptist Health has committed to a transformational $200 million investment to ensure that Homestead’s healthcare infrastructure not only keeps pace with growth, but offers state-of-the-art services on par with those found in urban centers.
The vision includes adding 72 beds and a new Outpatient Care Center featuring an additional emergency department, diagnostic center, and critical physician practices nearby. Along with an ambitious physician and specialist recruitment plan, the project will significantly expand primary care, diagnostic, treatment and surgical capabilities in the area. The expansion will also enable Baptist Health to bring the specialized, advanced care of its Cancer, Cardiac & Vascular, Neuroscience, and Orthopedic Institutes closer to home for residents of Homestead, Ocean Reef Club and all of the Florida Keys. Ocean Reef will further benefit from more specialists with closer access through the Ocean Reef Medical Center.
The Impact Fund allows ORCF to focus on larger, one-time financial needs in the surrounding area. Impact Grants support programs and capital needs that are beyond the scope of the annual Community Grants program and have a longer-term impact to Ocean Reef and the nearby communities. Member generosity at the annual All Charities Weekend is the driving source of funding for Impact Projects. Past projects have included the Baptist Hospital Helipad, and more recently, the Building Bridges Scholarship for the College of the Florida Keys and important construction for the ARC of South Florida in Florida City.
A total of $25 million in philanthropy is needed to begin the first phase of construction slated for fall of this year. Since the Foundation’s $1 million commitment, members who recognize the importance of this expansion have joined in with significant additional donations. Ocean Reef as a whole is showing an early and generous start at 10 percent of the initial $25 million required now committed.
Your All Charities Weekend participation and support will continue to advance important large-scale philanthropic projects like this one for Baptist, as well as the annual distributions to all the not for profit organizations at Ocean Reef and our non-profit partners in Florida City, Homestead and the Upper Keys.
Featured Preferred Partners
Impact Fund Grant for Baptist Homestead Hospital Expansion
Ocean Reef Conservation Association Awards $397,000 in Grants This Past Year
