Texas Health Resources and the Jane & John Justin Foundation announced May 17 that a planned new nine-story surgical tower on the grounds of THR’s Harris Methodist hospital in Fort Worth will be named the Jane and John Justin Patient Surgical Tower as the result of a $10 million gift from the foundation.
The new patient surgical tower will add 144 beds, 15 surgical suites, and a new pre-operative and post-operative services area to the Texas Health Fort Worth campus.
The joint announcement said the gift was one of the largest ever given by the Justin Foundation. Other gifts have supported programs and facilities at TCU, the Jane and John Justin Neurosciences Center at Cook Children’s Medical Center, Western heritage projects like the Southwestern Stock Show and Rodeo, and educational programs for children with special needs, such as the Jane Justin School at the Child Study Center.
“We are extremely humbled by this gift and grateful to the Justin Foundation for its generosity and support at the onset of this important project,” said Barclay Berdan, CEO of Texas Health.
“The Justin Foundation is making a critical investment in the ongoing health and well being of the community,” Berdan told the Fort Worth Business Press.
“Capital improvements are essential investments in capacity and current technology that will serve the community for years to come. Fort Worth’s families and foundations have always played and will continue to play a critical role in philanthropic support of our system and we are grateful,” Berdan said.
The gift, he said in the news release, “further validates our commitment to Fort Worth and the communities we serve. And it reflects the Foundation’s commitment to Jane and John’s legacy of giving back to Fort Worth.”
Fort Worth-based Justin Industries is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Justin Boots traces its roots to 1879 when founder H.J. Justin ¬– John Justin’s grandfather – began making western footwear.
“It is never about just getting their name out there,” J.T. Dickenson, president of the Jane & John Justin Foundation, said in a news release.
“They wanted to make a real impact on Fort Worth and surrounding communities. That’s why they gave back financially to these programs, but also gave of their time and leadership. I know they would be thrilled to support this needed and significant patient surgical tower benefiting all of Fort Worth and bearing their name,” Dickenson said.
Under Justin’s leadership, Justin Industries became a $600-million enterprise that included Acme Brick and the Justin Boot Co.
“John could see things down the road that others couldn’t,” Roy Topham, executive director of the Justin Foundation, said in a news release. “He was a visionary, looking into the future and anticipating the needs of his businesses. He also did that with his philanthropic work to support projects and organizations in Fort Worth.”
The new tower will help address the health care needs of Tarrant County residents and other fast-growing communities – almost 300,000 new residents in the past 15 years – in the hospital’s service area, which includes more than 1 million people in 42 ZIP codes, THR said in the news release.
“When I think of leadership and bold thinking, John is the first person who comes to mind,” Dickenson said. “Our job is to ensure that the Foundation carries on that legacy, along with Jane and John’s commitment to giving back. We think this project does just that.”