Baptist Health Foundation Receives $1 Million Gift from Julio and Alexandra Herrera to Benefit Care for Women at Baptist Health Baptist Hospital and Baptist Health South Miami Hospital
CORAL GABLES, FL – August 3, 2026 – Baptist Health Foundation announced today a $1 million gift from Julio C. and Alexandra Herrera to support care for women and infants at Baptist Hospital and South Miami Hospital. The gift will be divided evenly, with $500,000 supporting the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at South Miami Hospital and $500,000 supporting the transformation of the Lake Pavilion at Baptist Hospital.
“We sincerely thank the Herrera family for their extraordinary generosity,” said Alex Villoch, CEO of Baptist Health Foundation. “Their gift reflects a deep commitment to advancing healthcare in our community and ensuring that future generations of mothers, babies and families have access to the highest quality care. Through their support, we can continue enhancing our facilities and delivering an exceptional patient experience for years to come.”
The Herreras’ commitment to Baptist Health is rooted in personal experience. Following the birth of their son, who required care in the South Miami Hospital NICU, they witnessed firsthand the expertise, compassion and support provided by the hospital’s physicians, nurses and caregivers.
“We are incredibly grateful to the physicians, nurses and staff who supported our family during one of the most important and challenging times in our lives,” said Julio Herrera. “By supporting the NICU at South Miami Hospital and the renovation of Lake Pavilion at Baptist Hospital, which will expand and enhance women’s health services, we hope to help ensure that other families continue to receive the same world-class care in a comfortable, modern environment.”
“Baptist Health has cared for multiple generations of our family, from our parents and grandparents to our children,” added Alexandra Herrera. “Their expertise, compassion and resources support families through every stage of life. We are proud to invest in an organization that is such an important asset to our community.”
Both Baptist Hospital and South Miami Hospital hold Level IV Maternal Care Verification from The Joint Commission, recognizing their ability to care for patients with the most complex maternal health conditions.
South Miami Hospital’s NICU is one of the largest in South Florida. It features 62 Level III beds in private and semi-private rooms designed with specialized lighting and noise-reduction surfaces to promote healing for babies while creating a comfortable, quiet environment for families. Supported by philanthropy, the NICU is equipped with advanced equipment and technology, including secure NICU cameras that allow parents and loved ones to securely view their babies remotely when they cannot be at the hospital.
Baptist Hospital welcomes more than 3,000 births annually and provides comprehensive care for women and infants. Baptist Health is investing $120 million to transform Lake Pavilion with expanded and modernized labor and delivery suites, postpartum care, Level II and III NICU services, gynecology and specialized emergency care for women. The Baptist Hospital portion of the Herreras’ gift will support this transformation.
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.
About Baptist Health
Baptist Health South Florida is the largest healthcare organization in the region, with 12 hospitals, more than 29,000 employees, 4,500 physicians and 200 outpatient centers, urgent care facilities and physician practices spanning 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. Baptist Health South Florida is an academic and clinical affiliate of Florida International University. A not-for-profit organization supported by philanthropy and committed to its 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 & World Report. For more information, visit BaptistHealth.net/Newsroom and connect with us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn.
###
