Wilton Family Donates $15 Million to Norwalk Hospital

WILTON, CT — A Wilton couple has made a $15 million gift toward a major expansion of Norwalk Hospital.

The Norwalk Hospital Foundation announced that the donation, from long-time supporters and benefactors George and Carol Bauer of Wilton, will support the construction of a new state-of-the-art Patient Pavilion.

The Patient Pavilion is the largest expansion in Norwalk Hospital’s 126 year history and will bring critical care, surgical, women, and pediatric facilities and services to Fairfield County.

"We could not be more appreciative of Mr. and Mrs. Bauer’s remarkably generous gift to Norwalk Hospital. Their leadership and commitment to Norwalk Hospital over the past 30 years has allowed us to provide innovative medical care close to home for Fairfield County residents," said John M. Murphy, president and CEO of Western Connecticut Health Network, in a news release. "We are dedicated to making investments in people, facilities, programs, and services to advance the caliber and scope of care we provide our patients. This transformative gift from the Bauers will allow us to do just that in Norwalk."

The Patient Pavilion at Norwalk Hospital will be a seven floor, 200,000 square-foot tower. The facility will feature patient-centered amenities and advanced clinical facilities and programs, including intensive care and step down units, a medical-surgical unit for inpatient and outpatient surgical procedures, and an inpatient pediatric unit.

"Speaking on behalf of our entire family and our foundation, it is our honor to support Norwalk Hospital as it prepares to care for the next generation of community members," said Mrs. Bauer. "Many of the special services housed within the Patient Pavilion are near and dear to our hearts. We welcome the opportunity to help Norwalk Hospital provide patients with high-quality medical care well into the future, and we invite others to join us in this most critical effort."

The Patient Pavilion will also include a comprehensive Center for Women and Children with a labor and delivery space, nursery, neonatal intensive care unit, and enhanced pediatric specialties.

"We are eternally grateful to Mr. and Mrs. Bauer for their inspirational gift," said Peter R. Cordeau, president of Norwalk Hospital. "Mr. and Mrs. Bauer’s incredible generosity has helped so many people at Norwalk Hospital throughout the years. They are truly changing and saving lives by supporting Norwalk Hospital as we evolve to not only meet but exceed the health care needs of the communities we serve."

The Norwalk Hospital Patient Pavilion is expected to break ground next year and open in 2022.