St. Vincent’s Medical Center, which is run by Hartford HealthCare, has been given a $15 million philanthropic commitment from the estate of Neil Mellen.
The gift will “significantly enhance and expand” the inpatient oncology unit, according to a statement.
Mellen was a “compassionate and humble man whose quiet strength and deep empathy inspired his commitment to helping others and paying it forward,” according to Hartford HealthCare. He “believed profoundly in improving the hospital experience for patients and families, ensuring that care was delivered with dignity, comfort, and hope. This gift reflects his enduring desire to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.”
This “transformative investment represents one of the most substantial gifts in Hartford HealthCare’s history and underscores Neil’s extraordinary dedication to elevating patient care for the Greater Bridgeport community,” according to a statement.
The donation will fund renovations and modernization efforts within the oncology unit, including state-of-the-art treatment spaces, enhanced patient comfort features and advanced technology to support world-class cancer care at the Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute at St. Vincent’s Medical Center, which is the first care partner of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Once completed, the upgraded oncology unit will offer an improved healing environment and enhanced capabilities for both patients and clinical teams, according to a statement.
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“Neil Mellen’s vision and generosity exemplify what it means to truly invest in the health of a community,” said Jeffrey A. Flaks, president and CEO of Hartford HealthCare. “This extraordinary gift will accelerate our ability to deliver leading-edge cancer care and strengthen our mission to provide the highest-quality care to every person we serve. Together, we are building a destination for hope and healing, and we are profoundly grateful for Neil’s trust and unwavering commitment to this mission.”
William M. Jennings, president of Hartford HealthCare’s Fairfield Region said, the commitment from “Neil Mellen’s Estate will have a lasting and measurable impact on every patient who turns to us for cancer care.
“This generosity empowers us to elevate the patient experience, expand our capabilities and bring the very best oncology care to the communities we serve. We are deeply honored by their continued trust and partnership,” he said.
“Philanthropy has the power to change lives, and this extraordinary gift from the Neil Mellen’s Estate beautifully demonstrates what is possible when community partners share in our mission,” said Karen Kaiser, vice president of philanthropy for Hartford HealthCare’s Fairfield Region. “Their generosity enables us to expand access, elevate patient care and invest in innovations that will benefit families across our region for generations to come.”
In 2009, Mellen committed $500,000 to create the Nancy Ann Mellen Infusion Center, a critical resource for patients undergoing infusion therapy. The project is now fully completed and continues to serve thousands of patients annually. In 2022, Mellen made a $250,000 gift to support St. Vincent’s ICU, followed by a $4,250,000 gift benefiting the hospital’s Critical Care Unit and Emergency Department, advancing lifesaving care for the region’s most vulnerable patients, according to a statement.