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Billionaire's Trust Fuels Rural Health Care
24 Mar
Summary
- Helmsley Trust invested over $850 million in rural health care.
- The trust supports telemedicine, cancer, and mental health services.
- Grants have funded over 24,000 automated external defibrillators.
The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust has significantly impacted rural healthcare, investing over $850 million since 2009. This philanthropy targets innovative telemedicine, psychiatric, cardiac, and cancer care in underserved areas.
Initiated by trustee Walter Panzirer, who witnessed firsthand the limited healthcare options in rural America, the trust focuses on closing the gap between rural and urban medical access. Panzirer, a former South Dakota police officer, saw the disparities rural residents face.
The trust has funded essential equipment, like over 24,000 automated external defibrillators, and invested over $100 million in telemedicine. They've also established "virtual crisis care" programs in several states to connect individuals in crisis with remote mental health counselors.
More recently, Helmsley has expanded access to cancer services, funding comprehensive cancer centers in five rural communities and investing $128 million in chemotherapy and radiation services. Their commitment ensures the long-term sustainability of these vital healthcare improvements.
