DeBartolo gives $2.5M to Tampa General for Covid-19 unit
April 8, 2020 - Real estate developer Eddie DeBartolo and his wife, Candy, have donated $2.5 million to Tampa General Hospital to help treat patients diagnosed with infectious diseases including Covid-19. The funds will be used to develop a Covid-19 unit that would provide a dedicated area to diagnose and treat community members, a news release said. The donation will help pay for the construction and equipment, including necessary negative pressure isolation rooms and ventilators. A timeline for opening has not yet been set. The family also donated $150,000 to the TGH Team Member Emergency Fund, a fund designated to help team members in crisis who cannot afford to pay bills such as mortgage or rent, utilities or car payments due to the inability to work. The latest gifts follow a $5 million donation in December in honor of Dr. Thomas Bernasek, an orthopedic surgeon on staff at TGH. DeBartolo is founder and CEO of DeBartolo Holdings and is No. 319 on the Forbes 400, a list of wealthiest Americans.