The John Muir Health Foundation in Walnut Creek, California, has announced a $9.5 million gift from the Thomas J. Long Foundation, also in Walnut Creek, toward the remodeling and expansion of the John Muir Medical Center.

The gift — the largest ever received by the Muir Health Foundation — will be used to help fund construction of a five-story facility, to be named the Thomas J. and Muriel T. Long Patient Care Tower. The expansion of the medical center will include the addition of 234 private rooms, bringing the total number of rooms at the center to 410. The expansion also will create additional space for trauma and emergency services, an intensive-care neonatal nursery, and improved ancillary facilities, including a new helicopter landing pad and parking structure. The $460 million project is the region's largest-ever healthcare investment.

During her lifetime, Muriel (Billie) Long was an active John Muir Health Foundation board member, while her husband was an honorary board member. One of the original supporters of the medical center, Mrs. Long continued her volunteer and financial support of the hospital throughout her lifetime. The late Tom Long, for whom the Long Foundation is named, started the Longs Drug Store chain with his brother Joe, and was a contributor to community projects and a supporter of quality health care for the region.

"The patient care tower is an expansion of the original hospital that Tom and Muriel Long helped to build," said Guy Henshaw, campaign chair and former chairman of both the foundation and the John Muir Health boards of directors. "Their association with John Muir Medical Center and their legacy in this community as philanthropists and community builders bring tremendous honor to this project."