Marion County’s maternity unit receives $4 million donation from the DeLuca Difference Foundation

Frank and Angela DeLuca tour the AdventHealth Ocala Mother/Baby Unit on May 27 ahead of announcing a transformational $4 million gift for the expansion and renovation of the hospital’s Mother/Baby Unit. (photo courtesy: MAVEN Photo & Film)

Members of the community gathered at AdventHealth hospital on May 27 to celebrate a gift of $4 million from the DeLuca Difference Foundation aimed at improving the experience of mothers and babies as well as those who work in the unit.

The beloved community hospital houses the only maternity unit in Marion County and has been operating for more than 125 years. Today, nearly 2,500 new lives begin there each year. AdventHealth, the current steward of the beloved community institution, applies an additional element to the mission of patient care: treating the whole person as part of the ministry of Christ.

Dr. Doug Murphy, a long-time Marion County OB/GYN physician who had delivered thousands of babies at the facility, told the audience, “Labor and delivery is a unique place. And if you practice obstetrics as a physician or nurse practitioner midwife nurse, you realize it’s about 90% to 95% joy and 5% to 10% pure terror.”

Murphy said the “really unique environment” gives everyone in the unit an opportunity to shine.

Speaking to Frank and Angela Deluca, Murphy called their donation “a game changer.”

“We have great physicians, nurse midwives, nurses who make this team work very, but your gift is going to allow us to improve the physical part and the equipment that allow us to work at the top of our game,” he said. “There’s no substitute for when you need something and you need it right now, it’s there. It impacts, obviously, not only the life of the child but the life of the mother as well.

“But beyond the bricks and mortar sort of things,” he continued, “the thing that I think is going to be transformative is the fact that when you have a physical plant, that’s great, and the team that’s working is humming, so to speak, you can attract other physicians and other nurse practitioners and other midwives because they come in and they go, ‘Wow, I want to be part of this team.’ That is going to be the legacy that lives on because of your generosity. That sort of thinking is something that I want you to understand how transformative that is for our community, and I can’t thank you enough.”

Dr. Raj Wadhawan, Chief Clinical Officer for the AdventHealth West Florida Division, praised the medical team of the hospital during the celebration, adding, “As an organization, we continue to invest in the communities that we want to serve, and we do serve in. But I also know that philanthropic partnerships bring an exceptional touch to the programs that we couldn’t otherwise do.”

The expanded and renovated maternity unit will include:

• Private Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) spaces, providing privacy for families and a calming environment for babies, as well as cameras in both the NICU and post-birthing room, so families can see their babies at any time.
• Wall computers in the rooms for real-time information and communication
• HALO BassiNests © in all rooms, promoting safe sleep for new parents and babies
• Leading-edge electronic fetal monitoring, supported by AI, to create even better clinical outcomes for patients
• Specialized resources and equipment in mother/baby rooms, OB operating rooms and OB Emergency Department
• New welcome area for families

“We are blessed by serving more and more mothers and families each year. While the unit has served patients well, a new, larger, technologically advanced mother/baby unit is needed,” said Erika Skula, president and CEO of AdventHealth Ocala. “Our vision ensures high-quality, compassionate maternal health care to improve outcomes, bridge disparities and secure access for all mothers and babies.”

This project comes as the latest data from the Florida Department of Health shows Marion County communities have a higher rate of babies born to mothers who didn’t receive prenatal care than the state’s overall average.

AdventHealth Foundation Chair Gordon Fairbanks, who was born in the facility, spoke to the long-standing legacy many feel with the institution. “As Chair of the Foundation Board, I have the privilege to see how much philanthropy touches lives through healing, hope and love. Today is proof of how powerful that connection can be,” he said.

The foundation board launched a campaign to raise $8.5 million to enhance the hospital’s Mother Baby Unit, and they had raised $5 million toward that goal explained foundation member Rusty Branson.

Speaking of the DeLucas’, Branson said, “Their generosity sets the tone not only for this campaign but for a spirit of giving with hope that inspires us throughout Marion County and beyond. Frank and Angela, I can’t say it enough, and I can’t tell you how much I thank you for this.”

Frank DeLuca explained the considerations that were made before deciding to support the initiative.

“This is a place where people show up for one another, where they can take pride in building something better, and where generosity is not just a value, it’s a way of life,” he said. “When Erika and Amy invited us to learn about the delivering our future campaign, we took time to sincerely reflect. Angela and I are always thoughtful when deciding where to give, and the more we listened and asked questions, the more we understood just how powerful this campaign could be and how much of an impact our gift could have on families in our hometown, we created the DeLuca Family Foundation to support work that matters. We call it the DeLuca difference.

“This is not just about updating a space; it’s about creating the best possible beginning for life. It’s about giving nurses and physicians what they need to do their jobs with excellence. And it’s about showing every family who walks through the doors that they are cared for and valued,” DeLuca said.

Angela DeLuca echoed her husband’s sentiments.

“It means so much to be standing here today, not far from where I spent many years working at what was then Munroe Regional Medical Center. That hospital was filled with people who gave their all, day in and day out, to care for others. Even though the name on the building has changed, the heart and the care remain the same, and today, that mission is growing in bold and beautiful ways.

“This campaign is just one example of how we continue to meet the moment and prepare for the future,” she continued. “During my time at the hospital, I saw firsthand how meaningful it is to support people during life’s most tender and vulnerable moments. Whether it was a patient, a family member or a fellow caregiver, I came to understand that the smallest gestures can have the greatest impact, and that is why this campaign speaks to us. It honors the sacred work of caregiving, and it makes space for every family to feel seen, supported and surrounded by love.

“From the very beginning, it says to our nurses, physicians and care teams, we believe in you. It’s their passion and commitment that has inspired this moment, a special gift that will be an investment in the future of maternal care in Marion County, being a part of this effort is a deeply personal way for Frank and me to give back,” she said.