Boston Children’s Hospital has announced plans to construct a new $640 million, state-of-the-art pediatric psychiatric hospital on the campus of Franciscan Children’s in Brighton. This transformative project is being made possible by the largest philanthropic gift in the hospital’s history.
Brighton Main Streets expressed its gratitude for the unprecedented support, stating: “Thanks to an extraordinary donation from Rob and Karen Hale of Granite Telecommunications and Copley Equity Partners, Boston Children’s Hospital will build a state-of-the-art pediatric psychiatric facility on the grounds of Franciscan Children’s. This represents a significant win for our community and will have a profound impact on pediatric mental health services. We are deeply grateful to the Hales for this historic contribution and their investment in strengthening healthcare resources.”
According to reporting by Jessica Bartlett of The Boston Globe (December 10, 2025), the $100 million gift from Quincy philanthropists Rob and Karen Hale is the largest donation the couple has ever made to a single organization. Hospital officials note that the new facility has the potential to greatly expand the region’s capacity to provide mental health care for children and adolescents—an area of growing need since the pandemic.