Governor Perdue's Budget to Support Hughes Spalding Children's Hospital

ATLANTA – Governor Sonny Perdue announced today that his amended FY06 and FY07 budgets will include funding essential to the management transfer of Hughes Spalding Children’s Hospital from Grady Health System to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. The Governor’s amended FY06 budget will include $2 million and the FY07 budget will include $3.75 million to support the operation of Hughes Spalding.

“Children are our state’s most precious resource and maintaining their health and well-being is a top priority,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “With the support of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, as well as state and private sector resources, Hughes Spalding will be transformed into a top-notch children’s hospital in the heart of downtown Atlanta.”

Representatives of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Grady Health System signed an agreement today authorizing the management transfer. The two healthcare providers have been collaborating to preserve the downtown children’s hospital.

“This is a historic day for Atlanta. With the signing of this agreement, Children’s will help us ensure that Hughes Spalding continues to serve our community’s most vulnerable members -- our children,” said Andrew Agwunobi, M.D., president and CEO of Grady Health System. “We need the support of the entire city to make this revitalization a success.”

“This is the right thing to do for our children. Leaders from throughout the city and state have come together to address the challenges here because they know that improving Hughes Spalding will bring meaningful change to the children of Atlanta and future generations,” said James E. Tally, Ph.D., president and CEO of Children’s.

Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta has raised nearly $30 million to upgrade the 53-year-old building and will continue to raise funds from the community in order to renovate and operate the facility.

“The Boards of both Grady and Children’s are dedicated to the true heart of the city -- the place so many children turn to for quality care when they need it most. Hughes Spalding deserves our commitment and support,” said Joe Rogers Jr., chairman of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta board of trustees.