Nationwide Children’s Hospital has received a donation of $25 million from long-time donors Joe and Linda Chlapaty. The donation is intended to support the newly established Institute for Mental and Behavioral Health Research. The funds will be used for innovative research, faculty endowments to attract renowned researchers, and the construction of new facilities.
The Chlapatys’ donation is part of the “Empower the Possible” campaign, which aims to raise $500 million in support of the hospital’s $3.3 billion strategic plan.
Over the past 40 years, the Chlapatys have contributed over $30 million to Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Their donations have supported various areas, including behavioral health research, craniofacial and plastic surgery, child abuse prevention, suicide prevention, and innovation in pediatric practice.
Joe Chlapaty, who joined the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Board of Trustees in 2008, has played a key role in leading the finance committee during periods of significant growth. Meanwhile, Linda Chlapaty serves on the board of the hospital’s Center for Family and Safety Healing.
“I am so grateful for Joe and Linda Chlapaty,” said Tim Robinson, chief executive officer, Nationwide Children’s Hospital. “They have been supporting our mission for four decades. Whatever we need, they are there. Their leadership, generosity, and advocacy have made such a difference not only to Nationwide Children’s but to the entire community.”
The fourth research building at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, which opened in May 2023, is now named the Joe and Linda Chlapaty Research Building at the Abigail Wexner Research Institute. It is home to the Steve and Cindy Rasmussen Institute for Genomic Medicine, the Center for Gene Therapy, the Center for Regenerative Medicine, and the Center for Childhood Cancer Research. This building increased the total research space at Nationwide Children’s to over 800,000 square feet.
“Linda and I have tremendous confidence in Nationwide Children’s Hospital,” said Joe Chlapaty. “Addressing the crisis in children’s mental health requires big thinking and a lot of hard work. We want to help Nationwide Children’s with their ambitious efforts to ensure that all kids have an opportunity to grow up healthy and safe and achieve their best outcomes.”
Steve Testa, president of the Nationwide Children’s Foundation, said that the Chlapatys’ impact is immeasurable.
“Obviously, Nationwide Children’s is lucky to have Joe and Linda Chlapaty as such dedicated, determined supporters,” Testa said. “This gift is truly transformational and will propel our mental health research capabilities to new levels, benefitting children in central Ohio and beyond for generations to come.”
