Five-year commitment supports pediatric surgical care for Southwest Florida families
July 23, 2025 – Golisano Children’s Hospital has accepted a $500,000 pledge from Suncoast Credit Union Foundation to support the new Golisano Children’s Hospital Surgery Center, a vital expansion of pediatric healthcare services for Southwest Florida families. The gift, to be fulfilled over five years, will directly fund construction and equipment for the new facility, which is designed to meet the growing demand for specialized pediatric surgery close to home.
The Surgery Center will be the first dedicated outpatient pediatric surgery center in Southwest Florida. It will offer children and families access to expert surgical care in an environment specifically built for kids, reducing the need to travel long distances for complex procedures and minimizing the anxiety often associated with hospital visits.
“Suncoast Credit Union’s generosity is helping us build something transformative,” said Anne Frazier, system director of development for Lee Health Foundation. “This Surgery Center will change the future of pediatric care in our region, and thanks to Suncoast’s gift, we are one step closer to making that future a reality.”
The facility will offer a wide range of surgical specialties, including orthopedics, ENT, general surgery, urology, and more.
Suncoast Credit Union Foundation’s $500,000 pledge is part of a total $900,000 investment in Lee Health Foundation initiatives in 2025, including support for mental health services and community-based wellness programs. This contribution brings Suncoast’s total impact on Lee Health to nearly $3 million, reinforcing their commitment to building a healthier, stronger community for all.
“Our Suncoast mission calls for us to help improve the communities we serve. This pledged gift will allow more children to access to high-quality care in a compassionate and comforting setting which is important to long term health and wellness,” said Kevin Johnson, President and CEO of Suncoast Credit Union. “It is important for children to be close to family when accessing healthcare and we are pleased to be the bridge between the need and the reality of quality care for families in Southwest Florida with pediatric needs.”
Southwest Florida is one of the fastest-growing regions in the state, with a pediatric population that continues to rise. Currently, more than 5,000 children rely on Golisano Children’s Hospital for surgical care each year.
To learn more about the Golisano Children’s Hospital Surgery Center or to make a gift, visit GiveGolisano.org/SurgeryCenter.
About Golisano Children’s Hospital
Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida is nationally recognized for the quality care of pediatric patients. Established in 1994, Golisano is the only recognized children’s hospital in Southwest Florida. Ranked a U.S. News Top 100 Hospital for Pediatric Cancer, Pediatric Endocrinology, Pediatric Gastroenterology, Pediatric Nephrology, and Pediatric Urology in 2023, as well as a 2022 Leapfrog Top Children’s Hospital, Golisano Children’s Hospital serves more than 45,000 patients every year in relation to more than 30 specialty pediatric services such as cardiology, neurology, ophthalmology, orthopedics and more. Lee Health opened the current hospital building in May 2017 which offers 135-beds and includes comprehensive pediatric services such as a 24-hour pediatric emergency department, hematology-oncology unit, Regional Perinatal Intensive Care Center, and Level II and Level III NICU with 70 private rooms. For more information, visit GolisanoChildrensSWFL.org.
About Suncoast Credit Union
Suncoast Credit Union is the largest credit union in the state of Florida, the 8th largest in the United States based on membership, and the 10th largest in the United States based on its $19 billion in assets. Chartered in 1934 as Hillsborough County Teachers Credit Union, Suncoast Credit Union currently operates 78 full-service branches and serves more than 1.3 million members across Florida. As a community credit union, anyone who lives, works, attends school, or worships in Suncoast Credit Union’s service area is eligible for membership. In 2021, Suncoast Credit Union’s field of membership was expanded to include public K-12 teachers, college educators, and educational support staff from all of Florida’s 67 counties. Suncoast is passionate about community support. Since its founding in 1990, the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation has raised and donated more than $54 million to organizations and initiatives that support the health, education, and emotional well-being of children in the communities that the credit union serves. For more information, visit Suncoast.com.
