“Words cannot adequately convey our gratitude and admiration for the tremendous generosity, compassion, and vision of Rob and Karen Hale,” says Betsy Nabel, MD, president of Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH). “They are helping the hospital take a giant leap forward in our work to fuel innovation and eradicate disease.”

In early 2018, benefactors Rob and Karen Hale made a remarkable gift of $50 million—the largest individual gift ever received by the hospital. To honor their landmark contribution, BWH is naming its recently opened clinical and research facility at 60 Fenwood Road the Hale Building for Transformative Medicine.

The Hales’ ties to the hospital run deep. They began contributing to BWH, serving in leadership roles, and chairing numerous fundraising events after Rob’s father became a patient.

“We are extremely thankful for the care my father received at the Brigham, first as a cardiac patient and then again as a cancer patient,” says Rob. “The care and compassion extended to us was extraordinary.”

The Hales’ gift marks a major milestone in the hospital’s $1.5 billion Life.Giving.Breakthroughs. campaign. One of the nation’s most technologically advanced patient care and research facilities, the Hale Building for Transformative Medicine brings together clinicians and investigators in neurosciences, orthopaedics, rheumatology, immunology, and musculoskeletal health to accelerate discoveries and deliver new treatments to patients more quickly.

“The Brigham is an international leader in the research and understanding of diseases. With this investment, we hope to impact millions of patients.” —Rob Hale

Karen says, “Having seen devastating diseases directly touch many of our family members and friends, we’re committed to finding cures and helping more patients walk away with a victory.”

Through their longtime involvement with BWH, the Hales are highly attuned to the hospital’s priorities. Rob, who is president and CEO of Granite Telecommunications, chairs BWH’s campaign and is a member of the President’s Advisory Board, while Karen serves on the hospital’s Cancer Research and Care Advisory Board. They have made previous significant gifts to enhance family waiting areas on each floor of the Cancer Pavilion and to establish the Rob and Karen Hale Distinguished Chair in Surgical Oncology and the Hale Research Fellow Endowed Fund.

In addition to their gift to BWH, the Hales have also made a $50 million gift to Boston Children’s Hospital.

“Karen and I see Boston as an epicenter for far-reaching medical advances,” says Rob. ‘The Brigham is an international leader in the research and understanding of diseases. With this investment, we hope to impact millions of patients.”