A $75 million gift from Paula and Randy Ringhaver of St. Augustine will support Mayo Clinic’s multibillion-dollar investment into creating what it calls next-generation healthcare, Mayo announced in a May 21 release.
The Ringhavers made the donation in memory of their son, Randal “Lee” Ringhaver Jr., who died at 8½ months in 1980 from an aggressive form of leukemia. In his honor, the newly expanded hospital tower at Mayo Clinic in Florida will be named the Lee Ringhaver Tower.
“When we walk into the tower, we feel optimism and confidence,” Paula Ringhaver said in the release.
“It symbolizes growth and progress. We believe in what Mayo Clinic is building here, and we trust that Lee’s legacy will live on through the care and hope this tower represents.”
The Ringhavers’ daughter, Bree, was 2 ½ years old when her brother died.
According to the news release, Randy Ringhaver’s father, L.C. “Ring” Ringhaver, became an advocate of Mayo after receiving care at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He relocated to St. Augustine in 1947 and founded what has become the Ring Power Corp. heavy equipment dealer.
Randy Ringhaver is CEO of the company.
“We’ve seen firsthand the value of having Mayo Clinic’s expertise close to home for our family and for Ring Power employees,” he said in the release.
“This gift reflects the values our company was built on, including giving back to the communities we serve, and it demonstrates our confidence in Mayo Clinic’s future.”
Mayo Clinic says its “Bold. Forward. Unbound.” initiative is an investment in facilities, technology and innovations to “enable personalized, seamless care within and beyond our walls” while reducing staff time spent on routine tasks to allow staff to focus on patient care.
Mayo says its goal is to “transform healthcare through cures, data and new care delivery models that enable patients to access Mayo Clinic’s expertise anytime, anywhere.”
The release says that Including the Lee Ringhaver Tower, the investment in Mayo Clinic in Florida encompasses more than 725,000 square feet of new clinical, research and education space. That includes the Duan Family Building, which contains the Americas’ first carbon ion therapy system and a biomanufacturing expansion, along with a planned research and education building.
“Along with adding more capacity, these facilities feature innovative digital technologies that help them function like members of the care team,” the release says.