The Gerber Foundation Neonatal Center Celebrates 50 Years

Unveiling of the Gerber Foundation NICU at The Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital in 2011 (Pictured Gerber Foundation Trustees, Staff, and The Helen DeVos Children's Hospital Staff)

The Gerber Foundation Neonatal Center at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital celebrated its 50th Anniversary on Friday, September 13, with a brunch hosted by the Corewell Health and Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Foundations at Corewell Health Place in Grand Rapids. 
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In 1973, the Gerber Foundation made a landmark gift to advance neonatal care at Butterworth Hospital. In 1972, Dr. John Wilson, pediatrician for the Gerber children in Fremont, Michigan, approached Dan Gerber with an appeal to support neonatal intensive care at Butterworth Hospital. Dan Gerber sent John Whitlock, president of what at the time was known as the Gerber Baby Foods Fund, to Grand Rapids for an on-site visit.

History was made when the head nurse placed John Whitlock’s gloved hand into an incubator and into the grasp of a two-pound baby girl who grabbed his finger with her tiny hand and wouldn’t let go.
“I felt she was pleading with me to help her live. I lost it then, and I still do today,” said John Whitlock. “I told Dan, ‘We have to do this. We have to help save babies’ lives.’” The Fund made its largest gift ever at the time, $100,000, to establish a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Butterworth Hospital. 

The Gerber Foundation continued to support the NICU with several capital gifts throughout the years. In 2006, during the construction of the new Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital (completed in 2011), the Foundation made a landmark $5 Million gift, establishing The Gerber Foundation Neonatal Center. 
“We could see there was something very special going on at Butterworth and Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital that made us want to continue to partner with them to help bring the dream of world-class care for children in West Michigan to reality,” said Barbara Ivens, Board President of The Gerber Foundation. 

During its 50-year history, The Gerber Foundation NICU has served over 46,000 babies, become the largest NICU in Michigan, and is designated as the highest level of NICU able to care for the most critically ill babies. In 2023 alone, 1,706 babies were admitted to the Gerber Foundation NICU. The NICU employs over 300 nurses and ten neonatologists and cares for babies from 37 counties in the state of Michigan. 

At the 50th Anniversary celebration, the Board of Trustees of The Gerber Foundation presented a gift of $50,000 to purchase equipment that will enhance the staff's ability to care for babies in the NICU. 
“We are incredibly proud of the NICU that bears our name. We thank all the incredible staff, past and present, who work tirelessly to make world-class care possible in our backyard,” said Sara Hohnstein, Foundation Director of The Gerber Foundation. To see a video about The Gerber Foundation Neonatal Center, go to: https://www.gerberfoundation.org/2024/09/the-gerber-foundation-nicu-celebrates-50-years/

Celebrating the 50 th Anniversary of the Gerber Foundation Neonatal Center at the Corewell Health Place, Grand Rapids, Michigan