The sign unveiling of the new Clarence T. C. Ching Heart Center at Straub Medical Center is the latest commitment by The Clarence T. C. Ching Foundation to support critical health care needs in Hawai‘i. The $4 million gift will fund the future renovation and expansion of two catheterization surgical suites. The suites are part of a $24 million overall renovation of Straub’s Heart Center.

“This generous donation by The Clarence T. C. Ching Foundation is an investment in the health and well-being of generations of families in Hawai‘i,” said Art Gladstone, chief executive officer of Straub Medical Center and Pali Momi Medical Center. “We are so thankful for this gift and truly understand the impact The Clarence T. C. Ching Foundation has on improving and supporting Hawai‘i for the greater good of our community. This funding will allow Straub to continue to provide state-of-the-art care in the islands for heart patients now and long into the future.”

This is the largest gift the Straub Foundation and the Foundations of Hawai‘i Pacific Health have ever received. In addition to Straub, Hawai‘i Pacific Health includes Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children, Pali Momi Medical Center and Wilcox Medical Center. All are not-for-profit medical centers that do not turn anyone away regardless of a patient’s ability to pay.

“We are pleased to provide the lead grant in this important project for Straub Medical Center,” said Jack Tsui, chairman of The Clarence T. C. Ching Foundation. “Among Mr. Ching’s visions were to provide for the needy, sick and aged in Hawai‘i. Expanding Straub’s Heart Center is a significant step in this direction.”

Straub is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiac and vascular care, as well as patient safety and experience. The Straub Heart Center team is among the leaders in this specialty area, bringing together clinical expertise with cutting-edge technology to ensure Hawai‘i residents have access to the latest advancements. Most recently, Straub began a Structural Heart Program with the completion of a hybrid suite for cardiovascular procedures, which is also part of the newly-renovated heart center that is now named after Clarence T. C. Ching.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to work in The Clarence T. C. Ching Heart Center with the future expansion and renovation of our cardiac catheterization suites, in addition to our hybrid suite where our Structural Heart Program is thriving” said Dr. Roy Chen, medical director, Hawai’i Pacific Health Heart Centers. “We will continue to be able to perform leading-edge procedures, recruit some of the top specialists in our field and enable the exchange of ideas and opinions. Mr. Ching’s philanthropic leg acy is helping Straub take heart care in Hawai‘i to the next level.”

As this gift reflects, the late Clarence T. C. Ching was always forward thinking as a developer, realtor, banker, affordable housing pioneer and philanthropist. He was born on Kaua‘i in 1912. Clarence was well known for developing areas around Honolulu Airport, Salt Lake, Moanalua, Fort Shafter and Tripler. In 1970, he built Kukui Gardens, one of the largest affordable rental projects in the state, home to roughly 2,500 residents in 857 units on 22 acres in downtown Honolulu. In 2007, Kukui Gardens was sold to Carmel Partners and the State of Hawai‘i as part of a deal to maintain rents at existing levels through 2011 and then keep monthly rent affordable until 2062.