$50 million gift from the Mandel family will help create a state-of-the-art Level 1 trauma center and power a transformative expansion of emergency care access

A new chapter in Cleveland’s philanthropic story is unfolding with the announcement of a $50 million gift from the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation to the Cleveland Clinic.

The landmark donation will help create a state-of-the-art Level 1 trauma center and drive a transformative expansion of access to emergency care across Northeast Ohio.

The grant launches what the clinic is calling the “Community Bridge to Care Initiative,” designed to improve how patients reach emergency services, streamline arrival and triage, and ensure the highest level of life-saving treatment when seconds count.

The initiative begins at the clinic’s main campus and will expand to other hospitals in the system in the coming years.

Part of the Mandel Foundation’s gift will be used to build an integrated adult and pediatric trauma center, featuring advanced treatment spaces, trauma resuscitation rooms, and the latest life-support technology.

Other funds will go toward redesigning and modernizing emergency departments across the health system with clearer wayfinding, more coordinated care models, and upgraded digital infrastructure.

One of the most forward-looking components will be the introduction of an AI-guided “Digital Front Door.”

This new platform, available as a website or app, will use real-time information and guided questions to help patients determine whether they should visit an emergency department, urgent care center, or schedule a virtual visit. The goal, according to the Clinic, is faster access for those in need of emergency care and reduced congestion for everyone else.

Cleveland Clinic CEO and President Dr. Tom Mihaljevic said the partnership represents a shared commitment to improving lives through innovation and access. “We are deeply grateful to the Mandel Foundation for their partnership and support,” he said.

“This expansion will help us better care for patients with the most serious injuries, ensuring they receive the specialized treatment they need, when it matters most.”

For the Mandel Foundation, the initiative builds on a long-standing relationship with the Cleveland Clinic, rooted in excellence, leadership, and community service.

In 2018, the foundation provided $18 million to establish the Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel Global Leadership and Learning Institute at the Health Education Campus of Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland Clinic.

In 2022, a further $30 million investment created the Morton L. Mandel CEO Chair and the Morton L. Mandel Innovation Fund to accelerate pioneering medical ideas and leadership development.

“The health of a community is the foundation for everything else that thrives within it,” said Jehuda Reinharz, CEO of the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation.

“Every resident deserves access to exceptional care, and we are proud to help ensure that Cleveland Clinic continues to deliver it.”

By combining forward-thinking care delivery with foundational investment, the Mandel Foundation’s latest gift embodies its enduring philosophy: that strengthening great institutions is one of the most powerful ways to strengthen a community.

With this $50 million partnership, that philosophy continues to shape Cleveland’s future in profoundly human terms.