Abu Dhabi Donates $150 Million for Children's Surgery Pain Research in Washington

The Children’s National Medical Center, in Washington, has received $150 million from the Unitd Arab Emirates, announced by Yousef Al Otaiba, the United Arab Emirates ambassador to the United States.

The donation, one of the biggest a charity in the United States has received from a foreign source, comes at a time when most American wealthy donors are pulling back. Only two other gifts of $100-million or more have been made so far this year, compared with 21 gifts of that size last year.

As a result, American charities are looking outside the country for support.

The NYTimes estimates that the emirates have contributed well over $500 million in support to American nonprofits.

“What’s interesting about this gift is that it is not going to a building, bricks and mortar,” Mr. Al Otaiba said. “The majority of this gift is for medical research that will lead to breakthroughs in medical technology and treatment.”

The focus of the program is to develop pain-free ways for children to experience surgery before and after and will be called the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation.  via NYTimes Abu Dhabi Gives US Hospital $150 Million;