Arnold Palmer: Giving Back To The Orlando Community

by Greg May
(Orlando, FL)

Of all the celebrities that have made their home in Central Florida, no one has contributed more to the community than golf pro Arnold Palmer.

Before the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children was founded, children requiring specialized medical care had to travel to Gainesville, Tampa, Jacksonville or Miami.

In the late 1970's, a group of local pediatricians decided that a healthcare facility dedicated solely to the care of children and women was needed in Central Florida.

As a first step, the Children's Medical Foundation of Greater Orlando was founded by the group in February 1980. The name was then changed to Children's Hospital Foundation.

Ross Laboratories - which specializes in pediatric and obstetric healthcare products - conducted a study on the flexibility of creating a hospital for women and children.

The study concluded that special services for women as well as children should be included to make the hospital more successful. Orlando Health - at the time named Orlando Regional Medical Center (ORMC)- decided to join the effort and create the hospital.

ORMC approached golf legend Arnold Palmer who was at the same time looking for a charity to support. Arnold and his late wife, Winnie Palmer, were first introduced to Orlando Health when they toured the newly-opened neonatal intensive care unit and pediatrics wing of ORMC in the mid 1980's.

The Children's Hospital Foundation - along with some encouragement from personal friends - convinced the Palmers to lend the "Arnold Palmer" name to the facility. The Palmers also agreed to help with the fundraising for the new hospital.


ORMC decided to refurbish the old Holiday Hospital (where this writer had his tonsils removed when he was seven) and construct an adjoining building of 160,000 square feet.

The hospital opened its doors on September 10, 1989, which was Arnold Palmer's 60th birthday. The Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children & Women became one of the few hospitals in the United States where obstetrics and children's services are combined, increasing the chances for survival of high-risk newborns as well as enhancing the quality of care for both mother and child.

It was in this same hospital that my nephew's son, Sam, came into the world!

From its' opening in 1989 to 2006, the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children was known as Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children & Women and offered services for both women and children, including delivery.

After the opening of Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies in 2006, all women's services were moved to Winnie Palmer Hospital. Arnold Palmer Hospital became a children's hospital focused solely on specialty and sub-specialty healthcare for children. The hospital completed an expansion and renovation which resulted in a 64 per cent increase in licensed pediatric beds.

Today, Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children is very proud of the physicians and the multidisciplinary team of healthcare specialists that have been helping heal kids and save lives for over twenty years.