$65 million latest gift from Daniel and Carole Kamin to university medical center
A new, transformative $65 million gift from Daniel and Carole Kamin was announced, placing the couple at the forefront of health care philanthropy in Pennsylvania and underscoring their longstanding commitment to improving life in the Pittsburgh region.
Their latest donation will support the construction of the new UPMC Presbyterian Tower in Oakland—now officially named The Daniel G. and Carole L. Kamin Tower—and marks one of the largest individual gifts ever made to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
The 17-story facility, set to open in early 2027, will feature 636 private patient rooms and provide state-of-the-art medical and surgical services, with specialties in transplant, heart and vascular care, and neuroscience. Once completed, the tower will serve as a flagship destination for complex care and medical innovation.
“This generous gift by Daniel and Carole Kamin is nothing short of transformative,” said UPMC President and CEO Leslie Davis. “The ripple effect of this generosity will be felt far and wide as we work toward developing future groundbreaking therapies. We will improve clinical outcomes and provide compassionate care to all who walk through our doors. This is truly life-changing medicine.”
But this is not the Kamins’ first major philanthropic endeavor—far from it.
Over the past several decades, Daniel and Carole Kamin have steadily emerged as two of Pittsburgh’s most committed civic benefactors, directing their charitable giving toward health care, education, the arts, and Jewish communal life.
Their total philanthropic contributions across institutions now exceed $150 million.
Among their other transformative gifts:
Carnegie Mellon University: The Kamins have been major supporters of CMU, endowing scholarships and supporting campus development projects, particularly those related to science and technology.
University of Pittsburgh: Beyond UPMC, the Kamins have provided significant backing for academic research and infrastructure, including previous support for the School of Medicine and student-focused initiatives.
Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh: The couple have long been strong supporters of Jewish causes, helping to expand social services and education programs in Western Pennsylvania.
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and Cultural Institutions: The Kamins have been quiet champions of the arts, contributing to Pittsburgh’s cultural vitality with support for the symphony and other institutions such as the Carnegie Museums.
Regional Food and Shelter Programs: Through both private giving and work with local foundations, the Kamins have supported efforts to combat food insecurity and homelessness in the Pittsburgh area.
Daniel Kamin, a real estate investor and entrepreneur, and Carole Kamin, a retired educator and advocate for women’s leadership, are known not only for the size of their donations but for their hands-on approach to philanthropy.
They are frequently described by peers as humble, thoughtful, and deliberate in their giving—driven by a desire to catalyze systemic change rather than simply attach their names to buildings.
“Daniel and Carole represent the best of Pittsburgh’s philanthropic spirit,” said Dr. Louis Alarcon, Vice President for Medical Affairs at UPMC. “With the addition of this transformative new space bearing their name, we look ahead with optimism. It’s entirely possible that the next historic advancement in medicine will be forged by physician-scientists working in this very tower.”
The Daniel G. and Carole L. Kamin Tower is already being hailed as a new architectural and medical landmark in the city. But more than that, it symbolizes a long arc of giving—one rooted in a deep belief in the power of science, community, and compassion to improve lives.
As the tower rises in the heart of Oakland, it also stands as a testament to the Kamins’ enduring belief in Pittsburgh’s future—and their quiet but powerful legacy of giving back.