Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, has announced a $25 million gift from Joe and Linda Chlapaty in support of its Institute for Mental and Behavioral Health Research.

Part of the hospital’s $500 million Empower the Possible campaign, the commitment will support research, endow efforts to recruit nationally renowned researchers for the faculty, and construction for new facilities at the recently launched institute. In recognition of the gift, the hospital’s fourth research facility will be renamed the Joe and Linda Chlapaty Research Building at the Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital.

Longtime supporters of the hospital, the Chlapatys have cumulatively awarded more than $30 million to the hospital, including support for craniofacial and plastic surgery, suicide prevention, and innovation in pediatric practice. Joe Chlapaty joined the board of trustees in 2008, and Linda Chlapaty serves on the board of the hospital’s Center for Family and Safety Healing.

“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.”

(Photo credit: Getty Images/valeriy_g)