Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Receives Largest Single Gift in its History to Create Roberts Children’s Health

Today, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) marks a milestone moment in its history with the announcement of Roberts Children’s Health: a new inpatient tower, rising more than 20 stories above Philadelphia, and the revitalization of the existing hospital on Civic Center Boulevard. This new inpatient complex will be the premier global destination for pediatric care when it opens in 2028. 

Creating this hospital of the future in Philadelphia has been made possible in part by a gift from Aileen and Brian Roberts and their family—the largest single donation the hospital has received in its 170-year history. By combining CHOP’s leading research and treatment for the most complex medical conditions with family-centered healing, the pioneering care model and industry-defining technology at Roberts Children’s Health will ensure generations of children will be able to lead healthier lives. 

“At CHOP, we’re focused on finding answers to the toughest medical challenges so that every child has the chance for a healthier future. We wanted to create a space that could accommodate the needs of children now and for years to come,” said Madeline Bell, President and CEO of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “Roberts Children’s Health will greatly enhance the hospital experience for our patients and their families, equip our staff with the latest innovations, and revolutionize how we provide care, all while continuing our long legacy of breakthroughs.”  

Tailored exclusively to meet the needs of children, Roberts Children’s Health will be the world’s most advanced environment for pediatric care, featuring:

• State-of-the-Art Diagnostic and Treatment Areas: The new complex will total more than three million-square feet and will house more than 30 procedure and imaging rooms for cardiology, neurology, and other specialties. These innovative facilities are designed to streamline and accelerate every step of medical care, from routine procedures to the most complex cases. Medication delivery and other tasks will be automated, allowing staff to spend more time with patients and families.
• Reimagined and Personalized Patient Experience: Roberts Children’s Health at CHOP will dramatically expand hospital capacity, with a total of more than 700 fully private rooms in the complex, designed to meet each child’s individual needs in a healing environment that feels more like home. Each room will have integrated technology that links directly to a patient’s electronic medical record (MyCHOP), providing a personalized experience from the moment a child enters their room throughout their entire stay, including easier access to test results, instantaneous communication with the care team, and training and education on treatment plans.
• Enhanced Family Services, Activities, and Recreation: Whether it’s for a night in the emergency room or months of intensive treatment, families from all 50 states and more than 65 countries come to CHOP for the finest care. To help support these patients and families whose lives have been disrupted, Roberts Children’s Health is designed to supplement CHOP’s world-class medical services with additional resources to care for whole families. The new Family Amenities Suite will include spaces for fitness, meditation, and entertainment to provide families with the comforts of home and longer-term needs. Patient families will also have increased access to mental health support, and each floor will be furnished with a dedicated family lounge, a pantry, and quiet rooms for remote work. 

This most recent gift continues a long-standing partnership between the hospital and the Roberts family, including their help in launching the Roberts Center for Pediatric Research, which opened in 2017, and the Roberts Collaborative for Genetics and Individualized Medicine at CHOP, a multidisciplinary approach to diagnostics, clinical management, consulting, therapeutics, and research driven by the power of genetics.

“We are extremely grateful for the continued generosity of the Roberts family. They have helped propel us to the forefront of pediatric genetics research,” continued Bell. “Now, we’ll be able to translate that research into extraordinary care more quickly and help more children live healthier lives.”

“Our lives have been touched by Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in countless ways, and with this gift, we hope to deliver on Madeline’s vision for the future of pediatrics and inspire others to support this life-changing work happening right here in our backyard,” said Aileen and Brian Roberts. “CHOP is already the world’s leading children’s hospital, where the best doctors, technology, and patient care come together to serve families. We’re honored and humbled to help ensure CHOP remains a magnet for the greatest medical talent, a refuge for those facing the most complex cases, an incubator for breakthrough treatments, a beacon of hope, and the pride of Philadelphia for decades to come.” 

The partnership with CHOP and the Roberts family goes back decades, starting with Ralph and Suzanne Roberts. The Roberts family has invested hundreds of millions of dollars to bring world-class innovation to Philadelphia institutions. Their philanthropic efforts include championing the arts, education, healthcare, and technology—from helping to open the Barnes Foundation, to advancing cancer treatment at the Roberts Proton Therapy Center at Penn Medicine, to providing technology for Philadelphia schools and students during COVID-19.