The Atlanta-based Shepherd Center has announced a $50 million capital grant from the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation that will enable the neurorehabilitation hospital to double its family housing capacity.

The funding will support construction of a family housing building, adding 160 units to reinforce the hospital’s family-centered approach to rehabilitative care. The expanded facilities will help families and caregivers remain nearby as their loved ones participate in rehabilitation for spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, multiple sclerosis, and other neurological conditions.

The building will be named in honor of foundation chairman Arthur M. Blank, a longtime donor to Shepherd and co-founder, with Bernie Marcus, of Atlanta-based Home Depot. Both men and their spouses have joined the Giving Pledge, and the Marcus Foundation awarded $80 million to Shepherd in 2020.

“Arthur [Blank] has always believed in the importance of our family-centered approach to rehabilitative care," said Shepherd Center co-founder and chairman Alana Shepherd. “With this investment in our family housing program, Shepherd can help restore the lives of even more who seek our care from around the world."

"My family and I are honored to support Shepherd Center and their promise to care for the whole family in times of such difficulty,” said Blank. “Having seen the benefits firsthand of loved ones working alongside patients during recovery, I know it is a clinical imperative. It is my hope this new facility will ease their burdens in some small way so they can focus on helping their loved ones heal."

(Photo credit: Shepherd Center)