Philanthropists donate $100 million to 2 Boston hospitals

Two of Boston's premier hospitals on Monday received a combined $100 million gift from a telecommunications executive and his wife that they hope will revolutionize innovation and patient care.

Boston Children's Hospital and Brigham and Women's Hospital each will get $50 million of the gift from Rob and Karen Hale.

"Having seen devastating diseases directly touch many of our family members and friends, we're committed to finding cures and helping more patients walk away with a victory," Karen Hale said.

The Hales serve on the Children's Hospital board of trustees and have chaired numerous fundraising events for Brigham and Women's.

Karen Hale serves on Brigham and Women's Cancer Research and Care advisory board while Rob Hale, the CEO of Quincy-based Granite Telecommunications, serves on the steering Committee for Boston Children's Dream, Dare, Deliver campaign.

Both hospitals are naming buildings after the Hales.

The Hale Building for Transformative Medicine at Brigham and Women's is one of the most technologically sophisticated patient care and research facilities in the country, combing researchers and clinicians in neurosciences, orthopedics, rheumatology, immunology and musculoskeletal health.

Boston Children's will name their yet-to-be-built 11-story clinical building in honor of the Hales. The building is designed to transform the way children facing complex conditions are treated.

"The Hale family's gift is a major investment in the future of medicine and the lives of our patients and their loved ones," Brigham and Women's President Betsy Nabel said. "Their extraordinary generosity will fuel innovation and discovery that will one day eradicate some of the world's most complex diseases and conditions."

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