Health Commission approves recommendation for $57.4 million foundation gift, to honor Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg

The San Francisco Health Commission voted to approve a resolution recommending that the Board of Supervisors accept a $57,375,000 gift from the San Francisco General Hospital Foundation to fund furniture, fixtures and equipment (FF&E) for the new San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Care Center, and that the gift agreement include a provision to name the hospital for Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg.

The action followed a letter read into the record from Edward Chao, president of the commission, which said the foundation had received a pledge of $75 million, "including over 30 million for the FF&E campaign," and recommended adding the donors' names to the hospital. "This incredible gift by Dr. Priscilla Chan and Mr. Mark Zuckerberg will truly have a major impact on for our patients and everyone in our city," the letter said.

Greg Wagner, the hospital's chief financial officer, told commissioners the resolution before them recommended that the Board of Supervisors accept a gift of $57,375,000 from the San Francisco General Foundation and that the attached gift agreement would outline the terms and conditions for how the funds will be handled. "You have a resolution before you that we're requesting your approval of," Wagner said, adding that the $57,375,000 includes a portion from the Zuckerbergs and roughly $25 million in contributions from other donors.

Hospital leadership and foundation officials praised the donation at the meeting. Sue Curry, CEO of San Francisco General, called the gift "a game changer" and noted Dr. Chan's long association with the General. Amanda Hare, executive director of the foundation, said the contribution "really signals the importance of the General nationally and globally, as a leader in public health."

Tony Whitaker, representing the mayor's office, thanked commissioners for the expedited consideration and said supervisors had already signed on as co-sponsors to introduce the Board of Supervisors action following the commission's vote. Foundation leaders and campaign co-chairs—including Larry Baer, Pam Baer, and Richard and Judy Guggenheim—were also recognized by hospital officials at the meeting.

Commissioners moved to accept the resolution; a voice vote was called and commissioners answered "Aye," after which the commission approved the recommendation. The clerk noted that two commissioners who were not present had sent letters of support for the initiative. The commission's approval recommends that the Board of Supervisors accept the gift and approve the formal gift agreement that codifies the terms and the naming provision.

The resolution and gift agreement will be forwarded to the Board of Supervisors for final action. The transcript records both the $75 million pledge described in Edward Chao's letter and the $57,375,000 gift figure in the resolution; the $57,375,000 figure is the amount identified in the resolution and by the chief financial officer as the foundation gift to fund FF&E. The Board of Supervisors will review and act on the gift agreement and naming provision as the next procedural step.