A lexicon of giving

Stephen R. Karp has cut a dramatic new shape into Children's Hospital Boston's skyline. As CEO of New England Development, a firm that develops and manages commercial real estate, Karp's commitment to Children's runs as deep as the concrete pilings that secure his buildings.

Karp expresses his passion for Children's in countless ways. Earlier this year he was elected chairman of the hospital's Board of Trustees, and for the previous five years, he founded, chaired and quietly mentored the hospital's Trust Board of Trustees. As head of the Cause for Wonder campaign, Karp oversees a highly successful endeavor that has raised more than $216 million toward its $250 million goal.

More recently, Karp's magnanimity of time, spirit and resources took the form of a $15 million gift he made with his wife, Jill, and children, Douglass and Jana—the most generous gift in Children's history and one of the largest ever received by a Boston hospital. The new 12-story research tower takes on a fitting name: the Karp Family Research Laboratories.

The Karps' generosity enables soaring possibilities, much like the I-beams that keep his buildings aloft. Highlighting why he and his family targeted their gift to the hospital, Karp explains, "Buildings are critical to attracting the best scientists in the world. Our future, and the future of sick children, depends on it. The new research tower will lead to scientific breakthroughs by helping Children's dedicated scientists realize their dreams."

A man who deflects the spotlight and gives credit to others, Karp adds that the "entire Children's community—the leadership on the frontlines, the scientists, compassionate caregivers and staff behind the scenes—is essential to the dream."

Always about the kids
While concentrating support on the hospital's research mission, Karp is firmly focused on the mission's result. "Space has been a critical issue for Children's, whose programs are always growing," he says. "The health needs of inner-city kids are growing, the needs of kids all over the world are growing. We want to remain in a position to care for these children, and never turn them away."

Bringing home the point, Karp relays his experience during a recent tour of the intensive care unit, where he and his family saw patients with severe heart problems. "We learned about the extraordinarily complex surgeries these children undergo, some even while they're still in the womb. It's only because of research—much of it done at Children's—that these kids are alive today. Just 10 years ago, they would not have survived. And it's the research push, the forward thinking and willingness to take risks that characterizes Children's scientists, and has created these life-saving medical leaps," he says. "To see these kids and hear their stories drives home the point that the new facility, and the work that goes on in it, are priorities."

A family affair
Karp became involved in the institution in 1990 when Jill, then president of the Children's Hospital League and now an Overseer, suggested he could help the hospital by volunteering his real estate expertise. In the time since, Karp's contribution to Children's has gone well beyond real estate savvy. In fact, he and Jill have broadened their commitment by bringing their children, 29-year-old Douglass and 26-year-old Jana, into the family's philanthropic decision-making process. "We've always believed in involving our children in what's meaningful to us as a family," says Jill. "We made the decision about this gift as a family—it's what we care about."

You can make a difference too!

Join others who are improving the lives of children. There are many ways you can contribute:

• Create an endowment fund supporting a special research or patient care area.
• Make a gift of cash, appreciated securities or personal property.
• Remember Children's Hospital Boston in your will.
• Establish a gift annuity or charitable remainder trust, providing you or your loved ones with income for life.
• Honor a loved one with a memorial or tribute gift for birthdays, weddings, graduations and other important events.
• Donate through your employer's matching gift program or payroll giving program.
• Organize a special fundraising event in your community.
• Make an online credit card gift at www.chtrust.org.