Wednesday, May 16, 2018

‘Jack Edelman Cardiac Catheterization Center’ to honor late philanthropist

Jack and Debra Edelman
Jack Edelman loved his community, was a veteran who served his country, and a generous mentor who gave much of his time and resources in his life to help others – especially for the cause of community health.

When Jack passed away in October 2017 at 92, his wife of 64 years, Debra, decided to do even more in his honor. With a gift of $1 million to Reid Health Foundation in honor of her late husband, the Edelman’s combined lifelong contributions reached $2.12 million – becoming the largest contribution ever received by the Foundation from individual donors.

“We are humbled and we are extremely grateful for Jack and Debra’s confidence in Reid,” said Randy Kirk, Reid Health Vice President/Foundation President, of the Edelman’s generosity. “Jack and Debra have never sought attention for their years of support that has helped Reid Health and the community in so many ways. Debra’s leadership with the Foundation board fueled our success with the New Reid capital campaign. Further, her many years co-chairing Art to Heart, a collaborative gala partnership with the Richmond Art Museum, brought one of the greatest fund-raising success stories to our community’s history.”

To commemorate the most recent gift, ceremonies in May will celebrate the renaming of the Reid Health Outpatient Cardiac Catheterization Center to the Jack Edelman Cardiac Catheterization Center. The outpatient cath lab is on the second floor of the Outpatient Care Center at 1100 Reid Parkway.

With a gift of $1 million to Reid Health Foundation in honor of her late husband, the Edelman’s combined lifelong contributions reached $2.12 million – becoming the largest contribution ever received by the Foundation from individual donors.

Kirk said the Edelmans have long supported the health care system’s mission and fund-raising efforts. Side by side, they were familiar faces at Reid Health Foundation events over the years.

“Jack and Debra have such a long history of commitment to their community and support for Reid’s mission to provide high quality care to the patients we serve,” Kirk said.

The Edelmans are founders of the Recycling Center, Inc. in Richmond and also owners of Franklin Iron & Metal Corp. in Dayton, OH. Debra Edelman served 18 years on the Foundation board, including as board chair in 2000 and 2001 when the health system began planning the construction and move to a new campus. “She was instrumental in leading the vision that resulted in a $46 million transfer of Foundation funds to help pay for the New Reid,” Kirk said.

After a serious illness suffered by Jack in 2004, the Edelmans became dedicated supporters of the project to build a replacement hospital. At the time, Debra Edelman cited “exemplary care” for her husband during a three-week hospital stay on the former Chester Boulevard campus. In that stay, however, they experienced some of the constraints of the former campus – small patient rooms, for example — that illustrated the need for an updated facility. As grateful patient and spouse, the experience prompted Jack and Debra to give $1 million toward the New Reid project in 2005.

As a result of their 2005 philanthropy, two areas of the campus already bear the family name – the Jack & Debra Edelman Board Room in the administration area, and the Israel “Izzy” Edelman Cardiac Center, a cardiac diagnostics area, in tribute to the memory of their late son Israel “Izzy” Edelman.

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