Community October 23, 2009
With Smilow opening, YNHH brings community commitment to new level
While Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale-New Haven will provide care to cancer patients from New Haven and beyond, its construction marks a major milestone in the hospital’s ongoing commitment to the community and strengthens its already deeply rooted ties to the area.
“Yale-New Haven Hospital and its employees have been engaged partners with the greater New Haven community for more than 180 years,” said Kyle Ballou, YNHH administrative director of community and government relations. “Building Smilow Cancer Hospital allows us to bring this partnership to the next level.”
As part of its plans to build Smilow, the hospital entered into several agreements with the city of New Haven and Hill Development Corporation. These initiatives allowed YNHH to build upon its commitment to the community, including neighbors in the Hill area which surrounds the YNHH campus, patients, its current employees and future workforce, and civic and business colleagues.
YNHH’s commitment to the community also includes investments in several areas. Local housing contributions include: $450,000 for a home rehabilitation program; assistance with renovation and construction for area homes; rehabilitation grants for local houses; construction of a Habitat for Humanity home. Job support includes: community liaison position; city health outreach coordinators; construction and apprentice jobs; more than 300 New Haven residents hired as full-time YNHH employees.
Education and youth programs include: $1 million support for Gateway Community College nursing program; $150,000 to support area summer youth programs; $120,000 for day care slots for area children; $50,000 to New Haven’s Courtland Seymour Wilson Library.
Other commitments include: more than $3 million in voluntary payments to the city of New Haven; $425,000 to support community groups, events and programs; $300,000 towards economic development projects in New Haven; nearly $25,000 in scholarships to area graduating high school seniors; community health outreach, including health fairs and free screenings.
“Yale-New Haven’s support of the community didn’t begin with Smilow Cancer Hospital and it won’t end once the hospital is completed,” added Ballou. “Over several decades, we have partnered with community members on local projects, programs and initiatives and will continue to support the greater New Haven community. We are here to stay.”
