$35 Million Gift from Pedersen Family to Intermountain’s Primary Promise

More children in need of care will be able to access the expertise of Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital thanks to a $35 million gift supporting Intermountain Healthcare’s “Primary Promise” to create the nation’s model health system for children.

The transformative gift comes from philanthropists Andie and Todd Pedersen, founder and chairman of Vivint Smart Home. It represents the largest gift the Pedersen family has provided to the community.

The gift was announced Monday at the Primary Children’s Hospital, Larry H. and Gail Miller Family Campus in Lehi, Utah, which has hit the halfway mark in its construction. The Miller Family Campus, which will open in 2024 as a second Primary Children’s Hospital campus, is one of many parts of Intermountain’s model health system for kids.

“Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital has grown from an act of compassion for one child 100 years ago, to delivering premier pediatric care to 100,000 children a year, regardless of their ability to pay,” said Katy Welkie, chief executive officer of Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital and vice president of Intermountain Children’s Health.

“Progress of this magnitude does not happen without a strong, innovative vision for the future, and vital support from our generous community,” Welkie added. “We are incredibly grateful to the Pedersen family for their tremendous gift to help children in the Intermountain West to survive and thrive for generations to come by helping us build the nation’s model health system. In their honor, will are naming the patient tower at the Miller Family Campus the Todd and Andie Pedersen Patient Tower.”

Intermountain’s Primary Promise to build the nation’s model health system for children is a transformative, multi-faceted plan and investment of $600 million or more in children’s health that will be shared by Intermountain Healthcare and community philanthropic support through a campaign organized by the Intermountain Foundation.

Plans for the model health system were announced in January 2020, inspiring a $50 million gift from Utah businesswoman, civic leader, and philanthropist Gail Miller and the Miller family.

“One of my family’s guiding principles is to ‘go about doing good until there’s too much good in the world,’” Miller said. “When my family and I learned of Intermountain’s plan to build a model health system for children, we were moved by its mission. It was evident to us that this was a very important initiative that would benefit our communities today and well into the future.”

The Pedersens say their gift was inspired by the Miller family’s generosity and the Primary Promise vision.

“We’re following Gail’s lead by giving back in impactful ways, and I invite others to follow, spread the word, and do the same,” Todd Pedersen said. “If others ever wanted a way to give back to their community and touch everyone, this is it. This is the biggest gift we have ever given, and there’s a reason for that. I hope others will see how important and historic this project is to our state, and its potential to impact children’s healthcare across the country, and join us.”

The Pedersens’ gift will help children like 10-year-old cancer survivor Harper Morgan, who lives in Lehi.

Harper was diagnosed with leukemia at age four after a relative noticed she looked pale at a family party. Harper remembers how scared she felt after being rushed to Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, learning of her diagnosis and starting treatment.

But Primary Children’s caregivers put her at ease, said her mother, Cora Morgan. With their expert care and treatments, Harper is cancer-free. “I hope the Pedersen family knows how important they really are to all of the sick kids. I was a patient at Primary Children’s Hospital, and I want to thank them for donating,” Harper said. “Their gift helps me and so many other kids. But there are still many other children who need help, and their help will go a long way.”

David Flood, chief development officer for Intermountain Healthcare and president of Intermountain Foundation, said the model health system for children will need continued support from the community.

“This is the most significant investment in the delivery of healthcare to children in this state, and the Intermountain West, in this generation,” Flood said. “Intermountain Healthcare is allocating significant resources to this vision, and I’m grateful to the Pedersens for their example, leadership, and generosity to help us turn this historic ambition and undertaking into a reality.”

About Intermountain Healthcare

Headquartered in Utah with locations in eight states and additional operations across the western U.S., Intermountain Healthcare is a nonprofit system of 33 hospitals, 385 clinics, medical groups with some 3,900 employed physicians and advanced care providers, a health plans division called SelectHealth with more than one million members, and other health services. Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain is committed to improving community health and is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare by using evidence-based best practices to consistently deliver high-quality outcomes at sustainable costs.

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