International Donor Pauline Braathen Bestows Largest Gift in Cleveland Clinic Florida History
Cleveland Clinic Florida Receives Transformational $30 Million Gift to Establish Neurological Center
<0> Cleveland Clinic FloridaArlene Allen-Mitchell, 954-659-5028 / Shawn Yanan, 305-962-1768 / </0>
Longtime patient Pauline Braathen has made history by giving the largest gift in the organization’s 25-year history. Braathen’s $30 million donation will fund the construction of a five-story, 143,000 square foot building on Cleveland Clinic Florida's Weston campus. The building will be named the and will house the expanded Pauline Braathen Neurological Center and Cleveland Clinic Florida's Cancer Center.
“Since her first visit to Cleveland Clinic Florida in 2001, Mrs. Braathen has become one of our most ardent and generous supporters,” said Bernie Fernandez, MD, President of Cleveland Clinic Florida. “The will include state-of-the-art, technologically advanced equipment that will allow us to elevate the level of healthcare in South Florida while continuing to exceed the patient experience.”
Mrs. Braathen’s gift is the culmination of many years of philanthropic support and will help maintain a cutting edge neuroscience program in Florida today and in the future. She previously established a multimillion dollar fund to support Cleveland Clinic Florida’s Neurology Program and the held by Neurology Department Chair Nestor Galvez-Jimenez, MD.
“I have traveled the world and experienced more medical institutions than I care to remember, but the quality of the clinicians and the depth of care that I have received from Cleveland Clinic Florida are unrivaled,” Pauline said. “Dr. Galvez in particular, has provided me with outstanding care and support. He is knowledgeable, compassionate and undoubtedly one of the best in his field.”
Born in London, Pauline Braathen was a fashion model and buyer and subsequently developed her own fashion business. She married Egil Braathen, a Norwegian business man, who became one of the country’s wealthiest men, owning and developing property throughout Norway and in other parts of the world, including the United States. He died in 2009, after suffering the debilitating effects of Alzheimer’s disease for more than a decade. Today Pauline Braathen is a resident on the private apartment ship “The World,” traveling all over the globe but always returning to Cleveland Clinic Florida for her medical care.
“Through this donation, I want to celebrate my husband’s genius and success, in the certain belief that it will improve many lives for years to come,” Mrs. Braathen said.
Cleveland Clinic Florida, located in Weston, West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens and Parkland, is a not-for-profit, multi-specialty, academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Cleveland Clinic Florida has 230 physicians with expertise in 35 specialties. The medical campus is fully integrated and includes diagnostic centers, outpatient surgery and a 24-hour emergency department located in the state-of-the-art hospital. Cleveland Clinic Florida ranked fifth among the 73 best hospitals in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale metro area in 2013-2014 ranking of Best Hospitals metro area rankings. Cleveland Clinic Florida is an integral part of Ohio, where providing outstanding patient care is based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation. Physicians at Cleveland Clinic are experts in the treatment of complex conditions that are difficult to diagnose. For more information about Cleveland Clinic Florida, visit .