Blake and Sandy Modersitzki and their family have provided a $10 million gift to help build the Miller Family Campus, which will enhance access to expert specialty pediatric care throughout this growing region when it opens early next year.
Local facilities can make all the difference for children needing critical care and help ease the burden on their families.
That’s the case for the Blodgett family, who have four children, including five-year-old Talmage, a cardiology patient. The Blodgetts live minutes away from the new Primary Children’s Hospital, Larry H. and Gail Miller Family Campus in Lehi, and are comforted by having top-tier care right down the road.
Talmage’s mom, Jenna, said that because of the support of the community and caregivers, Talmage has received a full and happy life.
Talmage Blodgett gives a fist bump to Mike Kautz, Facilities Supervisor, Primary Children's-Lehi.
More children like Talmage will have better access to expert care, thanks to a Utah County family’s $10 million gift to Primary Promise.
Blake and Sandy Modersitzki and their family have provided a $10 million gift to help build the Miller Family Campus, which will enhance access to expert specialty pediatric care throughout this growing region when it opens early next year.
The Modersitzki family, also affectionately known as "the Mod Squad"
The Modersitzkis’ gift helps fuel Intermountain’s more than $600 million Primary Promise to create the nation’s model health system for children by strengthening Primary Children’s Hospital, extending pediatric excellence, and addressing emerging needs of a growing pediatric population.
“We’re humbled by the Modersitzki family’s example of kindness and philanthropy and grateful for the positive impact their gift will have on generations of children,” said Katy Welkie, chief executive officer for Primary Children’s Hospital and vice president of Intermountain Children’s Health.
To honor the Modersitzkis’ gift, the campus’ gathering and educational space will be named The Blake and Sandy Modersitzki Family Education & Conference Center.
Katy Welkie, CEO, Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital and the Modersitzki family announce the $10 million gift and the name of the Blake and Sandy Modersitzki Family Education & Conference Center.
Talmage and Modersitzki Grandson, both 5 years old, exchange gifts after the announcement.
The Modersitzkis come from generations of family committed to the health and wellbeing of others.
Blake’s grandmother worked as a nurse until she was 78. Another grandmother was a hospital switchboard operator and later oversaw the hospital’s office work.
Sandy’s niece was treated for cancer at Primary Children’s many years ago. Though she succumbed to the illness, Sandy was moved by the tender care her niece and family received at the hospital.
“As soon as our family learned about Primary Promise and, specifically, the Miller Family Campus in Lehi, we and our daughters were moved to put our full support behind it,” Sandy said. “We wanted to give to Primary Children’s now to help address the urgent needs of children and families in our community today. This is an absolute treasure being placed in our backyard, and our hope is that this gift encourages every surrounding business and family in a position to do so to join us in making a mark on future generations here.”
During her media announcement remarks, Sandy shared the humorous role texting played in their family’s decision: “Earlier, Blake and I had chosen $1 million as our gift amount, but during final meeting details, I knew we had to do more. Blake was onsite at a conference, so I texted saying, ‘I think we should do $10 million. Is that okay?’ When he agreed, I knew we were set.”
Blake’s perspective was a bit different: “At a presentation break, my team said, ‘Your wife’s sending a bunch of texts – check your phone.’ Glancing at the screen, all I saw were the words, ‘Is that okay?’ so I replied ‘Okay’. That was the most expensive one-word text of our lives.”
The 38-acre Miller Family Campus includes the Outpatient Center and a five-story, 66-bed, 486,000-square-foot Primary Children’s Hospital, where medical staff will be fully integrated with the expert clinicians at the Salt Lake hospital campus.
Hospital services will include inpatient behavioral health unit with comprehensive behavioral health services, the state’s first pediatric crisis center, and a 19-bay emergency department and trauma services.
The Outpatient Center will include three behavioral health programs, diagnostic services and technology, full outpatient rehabilitation services, an oncology and infusion center, and the Safe and Happy Families program for patients healing from physical or sexual abuse.
Primary Children's Hospital Miller Family Campus construction site in Lehi on the day of the Modersitzki gift announcement
Caregivers like you also support our Primary Promise by providing extraordinary care to our patients and their families every day. You can join the campaign by making a one-time personal donation or a recurring payroll deduction to Intermountain Foundation. Learn more about Primary Promise here.
Contributors
Teresa Hirst
Manager, Enterprise Communications Strategy and Channels
Intermountain Health
Jennifer Toomer-Cook, MPC
Media Relations Manager
Intermountain Health - Primary Children’s Hospital, Pediatrics, and Intermountain Foundation
LeeAnn Davis
Children’s Health / Intermountain Foundation MarCom Specialist
Intermountain Health