June 20, 2003

MGH president's response to Boston Globe article about Yawkey Foundation

The Boston Globe recently printed a letter (see below) from Peter L. Slavin, MD, president of the MGH, in response to a Globe article that criticized the Yawkey Foundation's support of larger charitable organizations such as the MGH. Last year, the Yawkey Foundation gave a gift of $25 million to the MGH to help build the hospital's new ambulatory care building.

Dear Editor:

Your May 9 editorial "A Narrow Foundation" criticizes the Yawkey Foundation for supporting established charitable organizations like Massachusetts General Hospital, implying that grants should be directed solely to grass-roots organizations where they will "improve the lives of people with the greatest needs." Perhaps it is the Globe that is looking at this issue too narrowly.

Mass General is the commonwealth's largest private provider of free care, last year delivering more than $24 million in free care to 10,000 patients. The MGH also is a major provider of care to patients covered by Medicaid, offering nearly $83 million in care to 33,000 patients in FY 2002.

At a time when public funding for social service and health programs is being reduced or eliminated, the MGH has added services and expanded access to underserved and at-risk individuals in Boston and adjacent communities, including Chelsea, Revere and Everett. We offer programs that serve the homeless, infants and children, at-risk teenagers, low-income families, pregnant women, immigrants, refugees, domestic violence victims, persons affected by substance abuse, the elderly and the disabled. Virtually all of these programs rely on hospital funding, grant support and philanthropy to continue their vitally important work.

Jean Yawkey received her medical care at the MGH and was a longtime champion of the work of the hospital. She understood the importance of supporting programs that were making a difference in the lives of people in the community. After she died, her foundation continued this legacy of charitable support. Clearly, the foundation's trustees take to heart the commitment to fund organizations — large and small — doing the kind of work the Yawkeys believed in so strongly.

And when it opens in late 2004, the MGH's Yawkey Center for Outpatient Care will be home to many services that help thousands of people who count on this hospital for care, support and hope. This wonderful facility will serve as a fitting and lasting tribute to a family whose name is synonymous with commitment to the community.

Sincerely,
Peter L. Slavin, MD