Akron Children's Hospital introduces the Kay Jewelers Pavilion

Long-time philanthropic partner provides largest-ever donation to hospital

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Oct 24, 2014, 02:00 ET

AKRON, Ohio, Oct. 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Akron Children's Hospital introduced its new medical building on the Akron campus, the Kay Jewelers Pavilion. The new building's name recognizes the continued support and recent $10 million philanthropic gift from Kay® Jewelers to the hospital's "Building on the Promise" capital campaign. The gift is the largest in Akron Children's history.

Kay® Jewelers is operated by Akron, Ohio-based Sterling Jewelers, a Division of Signet Jewelers Ltd., the largest specialty retail jeweler in the U.S., U.K. and Canada.

"It's humbling to have an organization like Sterling Jewelers support Akron Children's in such a monumental way," said Bill Considine, president and CEO of Akron Children's Hospital. "Their investment represents how special Akron Children's is while validating their own continued commitment to strengthening our community. This gift will allow us to continue bringing the most advanced pediatric medical care to northern Ohio. We're tremendously grateful for their generosity and support."

Since 2012, the $60 million "Building on the Promise" capital campaign has helped to finance a major expansion of the hospital's Akron campus. Akron Children's officially broke ground on the new medical building in May 2013. When it opens in May 2015, it will house a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), emergency department, outpatient surgery center and labor and delivery unit for high-risk newborns. This initiative has also supported the renovation and expansion of the Ronald McDonald House of Akron. In addition to Kay Jewelers Pavilion, the new cafe in the building will also be called the Kay Kafe.

Also, in recognition of Sterling's $10 million commitment, an Office of Corporate Alliances will be established in the hospital's Foundation. The Office of Corporate Alliances will assist other northeast Ohio companies who wish to make similar commitments to Akron Children's Hospital.

"The Akron Children's campus has transformed these past two years thanks to the generous support of our donors, including Sterling Jewelers," said Philip H. Maynard, chairman of the "Building on the Promise" capital campaign. "With the inclusion of Sterling's generous gift, we've raised nearly $41 million toward our $60 million goal."

Sterling has been a dedicated partner of Akron Children's since 1988, sponsoring numerous fundraisers and events, supporting patient families during the holiday season and establishing the Sterling Jewelers Family Respite Area in the hospital's Reinberger Family Center.

"One of our pillars as a responsible business is giving back to the communities in which we work and live," said Ed Hrabak, president of Sterling Jewelers. "Akron Children's has an incredible record of care and its dedication to making our community a healthier and safer place is something we support wholeheartedly. We are thrilled to introduce the Kay Jewelers Pavilion and are excited for it to open and be part of the amazing work done here beginning next spring."

Members of Sterling's leadership also volunteer their time to serve Akron Children's on several hospital boards. Robert Trabucco, executive vice president and CFO of Sterling Jewelers, currently serves as Chairman for the hospital's Board of Directors.

"It's an honor for me to be a part of two great organizations that have such a vested interest in the health and well-being of our community," said Trabucco. "The opening of the Kay Jewelers Pavilion is a reflection of our continued support and the beginning of an exciting new chapter in our partnership."

Visit building.akronchildrens.org to learn more about Akron Children's Building on the Promise campaign.

About Akron Children's Hospital
Akron Children's Hospital is dedicated to improving the health of children through high quality patient care, education, advocacy, community service and research. We are one of the largest pediatric hospitals in the U.S. and are proud to be ranked among the best children's hospital in the nation. More than 700 providers strong, our dedicated staff handles nearly 800,000 patient visits annually. With 2 hospital campuses and a large network of locations offering primary and subspecialty care, we also collaborate with other health systems to provide expert neonatal and pediatric care in our partners' hospitals throughout the region. We're leading the way to healthier futures for children and communities through expert medical care, prevention and wellness programs. We are a teaching affiliate of Northeast Ohio Medical University, training a new generation of pediatricians and specialists, and our research institute is advancing pediatric medicine and improving patient care. Learn more at akronchildrens.org.

About Kay® Jewelers
Kay® Jewelers, the number one jewelry store in America, is conveniently located in malls and off-mall shopping centers across the country. Kay® Jewelers is operated by Akron, Ohio-based Sterling Jewelers, a Division of Signet Jewelers Limited, the largest specialty retail jeweler in the US, UK and Canada. Signet's Sterling Jewelers Division operates Kay® Jewelers among its nearly 1,500 in all 50 states and has more than 19,000 employee team members. For additional information on Kay® Jewelers visit www.Kay.com, like us on Facebook® at www.facebook.com/KayJewelers or follow us on Twitter® at www.twitter.com/KayJewelers or subscribe to our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/KayJewelers

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SOURCE Akron Children's Hospital