IRVING, Texas – Irving business and community leaders Chan and Surekha Patel have pledged a gift of $2 million to enhance the cardiovascular and surgical care at the city's only charitable community hospital, Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Irving. This is the largest gift given by any donor in the history of the Baylor Scott & White Irving Foundation. 

Announcing this gift, Cindy Schamp, president of Baylor Scott & White – Irving, shared, "What an honor it has been to have Chan and Surekha as strong supporters and champions of the great work we are doing at Baylor Scott & White – Irving."

In recognition of their contribution, Chan and Surekha Patel's name will be added to the hospital's Medical Office Building One.

The Patels' gift is being been made in honor of their 50th wedding anniversary, celebrated earlier this year. The gift continues a legacy the Patels have established of giving back to the communities that have nurtured and supported them through a lifetime of hard work and achievement.

"When I left Mumbai, India to attend Stanford University in 1965, leaving behind my family and our 8-foot by 10-foot, one-room house with six occupants, I dreamed of the opportunities that were possible through grit, determination, and effort," said Chan. "With Surekha by my side, together, our dreams have been achieved, and with our success comes the responsibility to help make life better for others."

Chan is an entrepreneur, owning hotels in Manhattan and Texas, and founder of the State Bank of Texas, the largest Indian owned and operated community bank in the U.S. The bank has received national awards for being a top-performing bank. He also serves on the boards of Baylor Scott & White – Irving and Irving Hospital Authority. Surekha is the strong backbone of the family who has played key roles to shape their success in business, in the community and as a family – as founding board member of the bank, past chairperson for the SLPS Aastha Charities as well as master motivator to her children and husband.

As Irving residents for over 40 years, with four children and 10 grandchildren, the Patels are active leaders in the Indian community. They spearheaded the construction of the SLPS Community Center in Irving, a 55,000 square-foot facility for the DFW Gujarati "Patel" community named in their honor. Their work extends internationally. In 2019, they opened a heart catheterization lab near their hometown in India, charging nominal rates for testing and heart procedures.

The Patels' commitment to cardiovascular causes is personal: Chan has survived two major heart attacks, including his first at age 37.  The unprecedented gift to Baylor Scott & White – Irving will have a lasting impact on the hospital's services.

Schamp said, "As we look ahead, we will continue to expand, improve and enhance our cardiovascular care and surgical services and with this gift we will make a positive impact in our commitment to provide exceptional patient and family-centered care."        

"Most everyone knows someone who has needed surgery, or whose life has been affected by heart or vascular disease," Chan Patel explained. "Surekha and I and our family are proud to make this philanthropic investment in Baylor Scott & White as we know it will benefit the entire Irving and DFW community who rely on our hospital."

In addition to the cardiovascular and surgical improvements made through the Patels' gift, a new six-story patient bed tower also is under construction. The tower will replace the current patient tower, with the first floor seamlessly integrated with the main tower. Scheduled to open in 2021, the new tower will connect to the new main lobby and the hospital. Three years in the planning, every aspect of the new patient tower was designed with input from clinical staff and patients. The tower is a major investment in the future healthcare in the Irving area. Some highlights include: smart technology throughout the building, an patient infotainment system on large flat screen televisions, integration with the electronic medical record, specific-need call lights, and digital wall plates outside patients' rooms that display patients' special needs.

The Patels' gift was made through the hospital's development office, Baylor Scott & White Irving Foundation (BSWIF). Founded in 1977, BSWIF's mission is to make people healthier by awarding funds raised and by encouraging volunteer service to worthy nonprofit healthcare organizations that serve the people of Irving, Coppell and Grand Prairie. The foundation has raised more than $63 million since its founding. In addition to the medical center, other recipients include Baylor Scott & White – Irving Community Clinic, Canine Companions for Independence® - Kinkeade Campus, and collaborative programs to battle family obesity with other Irving not-for-profits.  More information is available at www.healthyirving.org.

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MEDIA CONTACT:

Matt Olivolo
Matthew.Olivolo@BSWHealth.org
714-801-5213

About Baylor Scott & White Health
As the largest not-for-profit health system in the state of Texas, Baylor Scott & White promotes the health and well-being of every individual, family and community it serves. It is committed to making quality care more accessible, convenient and affordable through its integrated delivery network, which includes the Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, Baylor Scott & White Research Institute, the Baylor Scott & White Quality Alliance and its leading digital health platform – MyBSWHealth. Through 51 hospitals and more than 1,200 access points, including flagship academic medical centers in Dallas, Fort Worth and Temple, the system offers the full continuum of care, from primary to award-winning specialty care. Founded as a Christian ministry of healing more than a century ago, Baylor Scott & White today serves more than three million Texans. For more information, visit: BSWHealth.com