Banner Health names children’s hospital after Cardon family in recognition of $10 million contribution
$356 million expansion project includes new state-of-art children’s medical center
MESA, Ariz. (May 20, 2009) – In recognition of an unprecedented $10 million investment in the future of pediatric care in Arizona, Banner Health, the state’s leading health care provider, is naming its children’s hospital after the Cardon family of Mesa, who made the generous donation last fall.
Cardon Children’s Medical Center is the new name, effective immediately, for Banner Children’s Hospital at Banner Desert Medical Center. The 146-bed hospital is now located inside Banner Desert but is slated to move Nov. 2 into a new facility that’s part of a $356 million expansion of the Mesa campus. The project will allow Cardon Children’s Medical Center to greatly expand Banner Health’s capacity to treat the region’s children in a world-class pediatric facility. Upon completion, Cardon Children’s will expand to 248 beds.
“As we prepare to move into our extraordinary new children’s medical center, we are pleased to honor the Cardons for their generosity and service to Banner Health and the future of children’s health care,” said Peter S. Fine, CEO of Banner Health. “We chose this name not only because of the Cardons' tremendous generosity but also because the name reflects the highest quality care that is delivered by our doctors, nurses and staff. A children’s medical center is much more than a specialty hospital. It is a center of the highest order of care for kids, provided in the most comprehensive manner. And that is exactly what patients and parents have come to expect from Banner Health.”
The Cardon family gift, officially given by Wilford Allen and Phyllis Reneer Cardon, represents the largest donation to nonprofit Banner Health and also one of the largest gifts to children’s health care in Arizona. The longtime, Mesa-based Cardon family made the gift to make a difference in the health of children in their community and for kids throughout Arizona.
“There is no more important cause than the health and care of children. We have been proud to be associated with Banner’s critical work in Arizona for many years and thought this would be a helpful and timely way to elevate pediatric care in this state. Those who have been blessed have an obligation to help those for whom blessings are still on the way,” Wilford Cardon said, on behalf of his family.
Wilford Cardon is a longtime board member of Banner Health, serving the company and its predecessor for 28 years. He has provided extensive leadership to Banner Health, as has his son, Wil Cardon Jr., who serves as co-chairman of the pediatric fund-raising campaign of the Banner Health Foundation, which has raised more than $25 million. Additionally, 15 Cardon grandchildren have been born over the years at Banner Desert Medical Center.
“Cardon Children’s Medical Center is a community asset, and the Cardon name is fitting to bestow upon the children’s medical center because of the family’s support of Banner Health and myriad other initiatives in the state of Arizona,” said Todd S. Werner, CEO of Cardon Children’s. “When families need comprehensive care for their children, they have an outstanding place to turn to in our medical center. The financial support of the Cardons will help us continue to make a difference in the lives of those children and their families through excellent patient care.”
ABOUT CARDON CHILDREN’S MEDICAL CENTER
Located in the fast-growing East Valley of metro Phoenix, Cardon Children’s Medical Center provides comprehensive pediatric care for a broad spectrum of children’s health needs. The Banner Health owned and operated facility will expand to 248 beds when patients and staff move into a new state-of-the-art facility on Nov.2.
ABOUT BANNER HEALTH
Headquartered in Phoenix, nonprofit Banner Health spans seven states and operates 11 acute-care hospitals in Arizona. Other services operated by Banner include a behavioral hospital, same-day surgi-centers, home care and hospice, research institutes and laboratory services. Banner provides more patient care than any other hospital system in the state, and is Arizona’s second largest private employer with more than 29,000 employees.
ABOUT THE CARDON GROUP
The Cardon Group was started in the 1930s by Wilford Pratt “Pat” Cardon as a petroleum jobber with full service gasoline stations. Today, the Cardon Group is led by a third-generation Cardon, Wilford R. “Wil” Cardon. The group currently manages and is involved in projects ranging from corner commercial lots to 20,000-acre master planned communities. With the goal of responsible growth in mind, The Cardon Group operates using its experience, integrity and relationships to bring quality to the projects under its stewardship.
