INDIANAPOLIS -
INDIANAPOLIS - Early Wednesday, a family from the Indianapolis north side donated $40 million to the new Wishard Hospital project. The gift will lead to a name change to honor the donors, Sidney and Lois Eskenazi, when the new hospital opens late next year.
To understand how Lois and Eskenazi got where they are today, you have to first go back to 26 West Kansas Street. it's about four blocks south of Shapiro's on the Indianapolis south side and where Sidney lived when he was eight years old.
It's where Efrem Kifle now lives. with his wife, daughter and newborn son Michael.
Kifle lost his IT job and the health insurance that went with it two years ago when the economy tanked. He moved in with his father, a taxi driver, and stepmother to save money.
"I call them my people because they are the kind of people I grew up with. They they are the kind of people that lived in my neighborhood. They are the people that need the health care and the health education. I said, 'Boy, if we can impact these people in some meaningful way we really ought to think seriously," said Eskenazi.
With the $40 million gift, the Eskenazis hope to bring access to quality healthcare and education to hundreds of thousands of people.
"I'm thankful that there are people like Sidney and Lois Eskanazi that I've never known about until today, find out they've donated this money to the hospital. That helps people that don't have health coverage," said Kifle.
Kifle's family thanks Wishard for the safety net to date.
"We have a healthy baby and we had a terrific experience and didn't have to give birth somewhere that is not appropriate," said Kifle's wife.
It's exactly what Sidney wants. His working class family ran a wholesale fruit and vegetable business along New Jersey Street. He went on to found Sandor Development, which now manages 70 properties in 23 states.
Because of his legacy gift, the new hospital will bear the family name.
"Now with this hospital he takes on this new hospital family as his own family and he's putting them first and I love that," said Dori Eskenazi, Sidney's daughter.
As grandparents, the Eskenazis are leading by example and say it's exciting to act on what is right.
"They are making the news; Wishard. They have done a big thing, It's like the next big thing since sliced bread. $40 million, I mean, that is a lot of money," said Ethan Eskenazi, grandson.
"I think it's awesome because if your family raises a lot of money, that is a good thing and not a bad thing because it helps somebody. It's like doing a mitzvah," said Sammy Eskenazi, granddaughter.
"We've enjoyed our lives. We've enjoyed what we've done, and we've enjoyed our family and our family's been supportive. Not once in the gifts that we've been able to give has our family said, 'Sit back; you're giving away our inheritance,' or 'what about our future?' They've all been supportive and all said you're doing the right thing and we're enjoying doing the right thing. We love this city. We love this state. We love Indiana University. We love the way they all work together and put this hospital together. We love what's being done in the way of health care for people who can't afford it, for education; for educating these people so that perhaps they won't need as much health care," said Sidney Eskenazi.
Wishard Health and Wishard Hospital will become Eskenazi Hospital and Eskenazi Health.
History
It was nearly two years ago that the Health and Hospital Corporation, the municipal corporation that runs Wishard Hospital, announced the current physical plant was just about used up.
"Really, what we're looking at is we either build new or we close down," said Health and Hospital CEO Matt Gutwein. Most of the Wishard buildings were decades old. Some date back nearly 100 years.
Wishard took their case to the voters in November 2009 to get permission to sell bonds to finance the construction. Some 85% of voters decided in favor of the bond proposal. The issue passed in all of the Marion county precincts. In some, it passed unanimously.
Ground was broken for the new hospital in May of last year. It is expected to be completed in December of 2013.
What is now Wishard can trace its history back to 1855 when a smallpox epidemic prompted the city to build a hospital. It has had several names in its history. City Hospital, as it was called then, opened in 1859 and served as a military hospital during the Civil War. The city took over the administrative duties after the war. Its current name stems from the administrator of the hospital in the late 1800's, Dr. William N. Wishard.
