TowneBank donates $250,000 to Wonder Tower at Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU

TowneBank, Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU, and Children’s Hospital Foundation came together to celebrate TowneBank’s $250,000 donation to the new Wonder Tower at CHoR, scheduled to open in the spring of 2023.

The donation was matched by the Children’s Hospital Foundation, maximizing the total investment in the Wonder Tower to $500,000. As part of the capital campaign to raise $100 million of the $400 million budget, the foundation is matching $25 million in gifts from the community.

The Wonder Tower is the new home for CHoR’s inpatient, emergency, and trauma services, including the area’s only Level 1 pediatric trauma center. In recognition of their gift, TowneBank will have naming rights to the new emergency department waiting room.

“Ensuring that our children have access to world-class medical care is truly a gift to the whole community,” says Bob Aston, TowneBank Executive Chairman.  “We are proud to continue our support of the Children’s Hospital of Richmond and take great pride in our connection to the emergency department waiting room, a place that should bring a sense of comfort and safety to children and families during difficult times.”

The new emergency department is one of many features that will be upgraded with the new tower. While it will continue to offer the same innovative technology and patient care currently provided at CHoR, it will do so in an environment that’s more conducive to supporting children and families—with as much as 33% more space and capacity to care for an increased number of patients.

Patient exam rooms will nearly double in size allowing more space for kids, families, siblings, and the care team to comfortably gather. Another key benefit to the new location is having everyone who’s caring for and treating children in the same building, leading to greater collaboration among the care team and improved access to care.

“In many ways, the emergency department is essentially the front door of CHoR. We want to earn trust the moment a patient walks through the door, so that includes everything from the highest quality care to a comfortable, unintimidating waiting area to put the patient and family at ease during a difficult time,” said Dr. Frank Petruzella, head of the emergency department at CHoR. “We have the utmost appreciation for companies, like TowneBank, that step up to support the overall mission of the hospital, recognize the importance of emergency services and understand the tremendous impact CHoR has on the entire community.”

TowneBank’s charitable giving approach is centered around organizations and causes with missions focused on serving others and enriching lives in Virginia and North Carolina. Headquartered in Suffolk, TowneBank has been in the Richmond market since 2015. The bank has eight locations in Richmond and plans to open a new branch in Short Pump in 2023.

“TowneBank is committed to serving others and enriching lives, especially when it comes to caring for the children of Virginia,” says Pat Collins, President of TowneBank Richmond. “The Wonder Tower is a space for kids to receive the world-class medical care they need in an environment designed specifically for them. TowneBank could not be prouder to support the new facility and Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU.”

Scheduled to be completed in mid-2023, the Wonder Tower will be located alongside the existing Children’s Pavilion and will bring world-class pediatric facilities to Central Virginia. Located in downtown Richmond, the one-million-square-foot, 16-story tower will be home to CHoR’s Level 1 pediatric trauma center, emergency room, inpatient units, new operating rooms, increased imaging capacity, and family amenities — all in an environment created just for kids and their loved ones.