Sept. 8, 2021

Denny Sanford has added $350 million to his gift that will create what Sanford Health envisions as one of the world’s leading virtual care centers.

The virtual care center will serve people from across Sanford Health’s network of hospitals and clinics, along with long-term care locations. It also will house innovation, education and research initiatives to advance digital health care solutions for the future.

The two-story, 60,000-square-foot building will be built at the Sanford Sports Complex.

“It is crucial we continue to break new ground in how we bring the best of today’s digital world directly to our patients with seamless, convenient and world-class care for the communities we serve,” Bill Gassen, president and CEO of Sanford Health, said in a statement. “The virtual care initiative will accomplish this and deliver medical services to communities, patients and long-term care residents around the globe when and where they’re most needed.”

This additional gift from Denny Sanford follows a $300 million initiative announced in March that included a significant expansion of graduate medical education and an investment in community health and wellness with 18 new sports fields at the Sanford Sports Complex.

“It is powerful to think about how many lives this gift will change,” said Bobbie Tibbetts, chief philanthropy officer of Sanford Health. “Philanthropy can not only save lives but also inspire the next generation of people to give.”

Since March, Denny Sanford has committed $650 million to supporting Sanford Health’s initiatives, bringing his total giving to the nation’s largest rural health care system to nearly $1.5 billion. His $400 million gift in 2007 resulted in the health system being named for him and accelerated its growth trajectory from a small regional provider to one of the nation’s largest health systems.

“I am committed to seeing this initiative become a reality,” Denny Sanford said. “I continue to give to Sanford Health because I believe that supporting the people and communities in the regions they serve is the best investment I can make.”

New mega-donation to Sanford Health will bring ‘hospital of the future,’ new projects, programs