Howard County General Hospital Receives Record-Setting $5 Million Donation

Longtime Howard County residents Dr. Sanford A. Berman and his wife Dr. Kay Y. Ota-Berman donated $5 million to the Howard Hospital Foundation—the largest private donation in the history of both Howard County General Hospital and Howard County at large.

“Kay and I had a long talk. We studied, investigated and researched and finally concluded that common wisdom is right after all—you can’t take it with you,” Berman said. “We are in our 80s and suspect that most of our life is behind us, and we have little, if any, need for material things. Why not give it to the hospital?”

This was not the first significant donation the Bermans have provided to Howard County General Hospital. In 2012, the Bermans donated $1 million to Howard Hospital Foundation to support the hospital’s Campus Development Plan.

“After we donated the $1 million, it felt good. I felt such satisfaction,” Berman said. “Kay and I wanted to leave a legacy in the community. We don’t have much family, and we have both been patients here and were treated so well. In fact, Kay told me the last time she was here that she felt like she was in a five-star hotel. While a patient at the hospital, she received, in our opinion, the best treatment anyone could receive. Making an additional $5-million donation felt right and I knew would make a difference for others in the community.”

In recognition of the Bermans’ gift, The Health Care and Surgery Center building will now be named The Dr. Sanford A. Berman and Dr. Kay Ota-Berman Pavilion. Funds from the donation will be used in the areas of greatest need that improve patient care and will be given over the course of five years.

Howard County General President Steven Snelgrove said, “The Bermans exemplify the spirit of generosity that makes Howard County such an incredible community. This gift comes at a time when health care finances are changing, and we will use it wisely to support the strategic priorities of our hospital.”

Howard Hospital Foundation Vice President of Development Sandy Harriman said, “Sandy and Kay have made a true commitment to advancing health in Howard County. Their continuing support is exemplary, and we are forever grateful for this most generous gift.”

Howard County General Hospital: A Member of Johns Hopkins Medicine is a not-for-profit health care provider with 253 licensed beds located in Columbia, Md. A comprehensive, acute-care medical center, Howard County General offers a full range of services, from neonatal care and oncology to outpatient treatment and critical care. The hospital has a professional staff of nearly 900 physicians and allied health professionals, representing nearly 100 specialties and subspecialties; a workforce of more than 1,700 individuals and more than 380 volunteers.

Howard Hospital Foundation is a private, nonprofit organization entrusted to provide philanthropic support of Howard County General Hospital: A Member of Johns Hopkins Medicine. Through the generosity of many donors, the foundation helps Howard County General Hospital respond to the health care needs of the growing community, fostering world-class medical care and wellness services in a convenient, local setting.