H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation Commits $250,000 Through Matching Grant

The H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation is offering aid after the tragic mass shooting in Orlando through a commitment of a $250,000 matching grant to the Orlando Health Foundation. The Berger Foundation raises financial support and awareness for the Level One Trauma Center at Orlando Regional Medical Center (ORMC), which cared for victims of the June 12 mass shooting.

“While the whole situation is unthinkable, it’s also unimaginable where we’d be or what loss of life would have been without the Trauma Center at ORMC,” said John Bozard, President of the Orlando Health Foundation. “For years, we’ve raised funds to support the unique needs of the region’s Level One Trauma Center to ensure our physicians, clinical staff, operating rooms and other resources are ready and waiting when it matters most. Now more than ever, we look to friends and supporters to provide much needed assistance.”

The Berger Foundation has contributed to the Orlando Health Foundation since 2008, giving primarily to the specialized pediatric and neonatal units at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, which is also part of Orlando Health, a private, not-for-profit healthcare network.

“When crises of this magnitude occur, sometimes it is not immediately clear how best to help,” said Christopher McGuire, Vice President of Programs for the H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation. “But in this case, we have a long-standing relationship with the nonprofit organization that supports the only Level One Trauma Center in Central Florida, where many victims were cared for after the tragic shooting.”

The Trauma Center at ORMC saw 44 victims on June 12 and performed 26 surgeries on that day alone. To date, the Trauma Center has performed more than 60 surgeries related to the shooting. Four inpatients remain at ORMC. In typical situations, the Trauma Center has 15-20 medical professionals and specialized equipment ready to begin immediate lifesaving care when a trauma patient arrives. While most trauma patients at ORMC are from car crashes and falls, the trauma team trains for a number of possible scenarios. In the case of the mass shooting, this comprehensive training plus a rapid increase of physicians and staff meant ORMC was equipped to meet the needs of this crisis, which saved lives.

Donations to ORMC’s Trauma Center will support the ongoing needs in the wake of this tragedy and will be matched dollar for dollar by the H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation up to $250,000 through October 31, 2016. Donations can be made through this secure website or by mail to Orlando Health Foundation, 3160 Southgate Commerce Blvd, Suite 50, Orlando, FL 32806. Checks should be made payable to “Orlando Health Foundation.” As a nonprofit corporation, donations to Orlando Health Foundation are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.