The Carls Foundation grant carries with it the mission and commitment of its late founders, Detroit industrialist William Carls and his wife, Marie Carls, to provide the youngest patients with the best medical care through the support of pediatric health care facilities and programs in Michigan.

Awarded by the Board of Trustees of the foundation after a formal application by the U-M Health System, the new grant moves Mott closer to the creation of a new state-of-the-art hospital that will provide patients in Michigan, the United States and across the globe with even greater access to U-M's world-class medical care for newborns, children and pregnant women. The U-M Health System soon hopes to seek permission from the University of Michigan's Board of Regents to proceed with the building project.

The grant brings to $9.6 million the total funds raised through the Mott capital and program campaign, led by U-M Regent David Brandon and his wife, Jan, and U-M head football coach Lloyd Carr and his wife, Laurie. The figure includes more than $400,000 in "M GO BLUE for Mott" wristband sales. The Mott campaign to build a new children's and women's hospital is part of the University-wide $2.5 billion Michigan Difference campaign.

"The Carls Foundation has made significant contributions to Mott programs and research in the past, and we're very pleased and excited that the foundation now will be a part of our plans to build for the future of children's and women's care in Michigan," says Robert P. Kelch, M.D., U-M executive vice president for medical affairs and CEO of the U-M Health System.

"Having lost their only child in infancy, William and Marie Carls experienced personally the need for advanced and rea
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Contact: Krista Hopson
khopson@umich.edu
734-764-2220
University of Michigan Health System
2-Mar-2005