MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia’s most vulnerable children will benefit from a $1 million gift made by the Lorenze family to support pediatric acute care at the new WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital.
“The Lorenze family understands the important role WVU Medicine Children’s has played in the lives of thousands of families from across the state, the surrounding region, and the country and has long supported our efforts to provide care to all of the children and women who have come through our doors,” Albert L. Wright, Jr., president and CEO of the West Virginia University Health System, said. “With this most recent gift toward our new Hospital, the Lorenzes are helping to ensure that high quality care remains available for these families for generations to come.”
The WVU Medicine Children’s Acute Care Unit provides care for infants, children, and adolescents who are recovering from an illness, injury, or surgery. The new 34-bed Unit will offer the highest level of treatment for a wide range of pediatric needs – from children with cancer or a heart condition to children who need a tonsillectomy or diabetes treatment. The Unit will be located on the ninth floor of the new, 150-bed free-leaning Children’s Hospital on WVU Medicine’s main campus in Morgantown and will be named in recognition of the Lorenze family’s generosity.
“The Lorenze family’s philanthropic support of Children’s is both longstanding and unwavering,” Amy L. Bush, B.S.N., M.B.A., R.N., C.N.O.R., chief operating officer for WVU Medicine Children’s, said. “As a family, they understand the vital importance of the new WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital in ensuring the future health of children in the region.”
Led by patriarch Steve Lorenze Jr., the Lorenze family has long supported West Virginia University and the Morgantown community through entrepreneurship, economic development, and civic engagement. Previous gifts to WVU Medicine Children’s have benefited neonatal care, the Child Life Program, and greatest needs. The family’s latest gift honors the memory of Steve’s late wife, Ginger, and her lifelong passion for children.
“Ginger devoted her time to helping the children of West Virginia,” Steve Lorenze Jr. said. “What better way to honor her legacy than by giving back to an organzation whose mission is to build healthier lives for the kids in our community. We are honored to give to WVU Medicine Children’s.”
Steve Lorenze is a Morgantown native who owns three bowling alleys – including Suburban Lanes in Morgantown – and several commercial properties.
Sons Jerry and Gregg have leadership roles with the family businesses. Jerry and Gregg are also the owners of Kegler’s Sports Bar, and daughter Cindy Myers is a real estate agent with J.S. Walker Associates. Other family members include Gregg’s wife, Shelley, daughters Stephanie, Natalie, Katie, and Chloe; Cindy’s husband, Robert Myers, and their children Kristen and Matt, Matt’s wife, Jennifer and daughter Ginger; and Jerry’s wife Shera, and their daughters, Alexis and Alyssa.
The Lorenze family’s gift supports the “Grow Children’s” capital campaign, which seeks to raise $60 million in private funds for the new hospital and associated program improvements. To learn more about contributing to this effort, call 304-598-4346, or visit WVUMedicine.org/GrowChildrens.
All gifts are made through the WVU Foundation, the nonprofit organization that receives and administers private donations on behalf of the University.