Baptist Health Foundation Receives $5 Million Gift from Walsh Family for Baptist Health Fishermen’s Community Hospital
MARATHON, FL – April 12, 2024 – Baptist Health Foundation announced that the Walsh family, owners of Ocean Properties Hotels and Resorts / OPAL Collection, has made a $5 million gift to Baptist Health Foundation in support of the construction of the medical arts building at Baptist Health Fishermen’s Community Hospital in Marathon, Florida.
The gift was recognized with the naming of the Walsh Family Medical Arts Building on Wednesday, April 3 at a ribbon cutting for the new building, which is located on the hospital campus.
“We are very grateful to the Walsh family for this generous gift,” said Alex Villoch, CEO of Baptist Health Foundation. “Their support is helping to expand access to high-quality healthcare and expert physicians in the Middle Keys, so patients won’t have to travel far to get care.”
The Walsh family owns Ocean Properties Hotels and Resorts, the trade name for a group of independently owned and operated hotels and properties. These hotels include properties branded by Marriott, Hilton, Starwood and IHC and independent hotels and resorts marketed as the OPAL Collection. The business spans over 19,000 guestrooms across North America. It is the largest hotel owner and operator in Florida and one of the largest employers in the Florida Keys.
The Walshes are longtime donors to Baptist Health’s Bethesda Hospital in Boynton Beach, and have supported many Baptist Health Foundation fundraising events. They are well-known community leaders in Palm Beach County, where they are based. Their philanthropic organization, OPL Charities, has given millions of dollars in support of schools, libraries, museums, food banks and other organizations.
“Partnering with Baptist Health was a great match, because our business, like theirs, is all about caring — caring for our guests and hospitality team like they care for their patients and staff,” said Mark Walsh. “We understand the importance of quality, available healthcare in the Florida Keys, and we’re thrilled to be a part of it.”
The new hurricane-resistant Walsh Family Medical Arts Building at Fishermen’s Community Hospital spans nearly 10,000 square feet, and will house primary care physician offices and specialty services like orthopedics, gastroenterology, oncology infusion, physical therapy and rehabilitation services. It will allow the oncology infusion area inside the hospital to relocate to a bigger space, adding two more chairs and a lab area. The new building will also allow for greater clinical collaboration and make imaging and testing services more convenient for patients.
“The Walsh Family Medical Arts Building represents yet another step forward in serving the health and wellness needs of our community,” said Drew Grossman, CEO of Baptist Health Fishermen’s Community Hospital and Mariners Hospital. “By consolidating services on one campus, this new facility extends Baptist Health’s commitment to provide the best healthcare to all residents and visitors in the Keys.”
Fishermen’s Community Hospital is a 37,330-square-foot, eight-bed critical access facility that was built with over $16 million in local philanthropic support and opened its doors in the summer of 2021. The hospital offers cancer care, diagnostic imaging, emergency care, endoscopy, orthopedic care, outpatient diabetes and laboratory care, physical therapy and rehabilitation care, surgery and telestroke services.
About Baptist Health Foundation
The mission of Baptist Health Foundation is to inspire philanthropy and build extraordinary donor relationships in support of excellence, innovation, community wellness and global leadership in healthcare at Baptist Health South Florida. Through philanthropy, the Foundation supports and expands Baptist Health’s ability to provide outstanding patient care and bring the latest treatments to patients and families affected by a serious illness. Donor contributions also allow the Foundation to assist Baptist Health facilities in keeping pace with technology and equipment advances, perform cutting-edge research and offer continuing education opportunities to medical staff. Learn more at BaptistHealth.net/Foundation and connect with us on Facebook and Instagram.
Baptist Health Foundation is part of Baptist Health, the largest healthcare organization in the region, with 12 hospitals, more than 27,000 employees, 4,000 physicians and 200 outpatient centers, urgent care facilities and physician practices spanning across Miami-Dade, Monroe, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Baptist Health has internationally renowned institutes specializing in cancer care, brain and spine care, heart and vascular care and orthopedic care. In addition, it includes Baptist Health Medical Group; Baptist Health Quality Network; and The Baptist Health PineApp, a virtual health platform. A not-for-profit organization supported by philanthropy and committed to its faith-based charitable mission of medical excellence, Baptist Health has been recognized by Fortune as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America and is the most awarded healthcare system in South Florida by U.S. News and World Report. For more information, visit BaptistHealth.net/Newsroom and connect with us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn.
