Hale Family Donates $100M for New Pediatric Behavioral Health Facility in Brighton
Karen Hale said this was a “critical moment so all children and families can feel supported, understood, and hopeful about the future.”
In early December, Boston Children's Hospital announced it received a generous $100 million donation earmarked for pediatric behavioral health. It is the largest gift in the hospital's history.
The gift was made by Rob and Karen Hale, a billionaire Quincy couple who are known for their philanthropy. Rob is the president and CEO of Granite Telecommunications, a co-founder of Copley Equity Partners, and a minority co-owner of the Boston Celtics. Karen Hale said this was a “critical moment so all children and families can feel supported, understood, and hopeful about the future.”
This $100 million gift will help fund a state-of-the-art $640 million pediatric psychiatric hospital. It will offer inpatient and outpatient services on the campus of Franciscan Children's in Brighton.
According to a MassLive report, in February, the Massachusetts Health Policy Commission released research indicating that 47% of children who were admitted to a psychiatric bed in an acute care hospital in 2024 had to stay in an emergency department for more than 24 hours before their admission.
The new facility in Brighton will nearly double Boston Children's current mental health patient bed capacity.
According to MassLive, the new 116-bed facility will offer inpatient care, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient programs, outpatient rehabilitation, a dental suite, five outdoor play spaces, and four operating rooms.
Boston Children's expects to break ground next year, with a hopeful opening by 2029.
“Every day we see the courage of children who are struggling with anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges — and the love of the families who stand beside them,” said Stacy Drury, psychiatrist-in-chief at Boston Children's Hospital, in a statement shared with MassLive. “Karen and Rob Hale's incredible gift will help us meet those families with the care, compassion, and innovation they deserve. It will allow us to heal in ways that were never before thought possible.”
