Saddleback Memorial Medical Center said Wednesday it has nabbed another huge donation from a pair of local philanthropists.
William and Louise Meiklejohn, who live in Laguna Woods’ Leisure World, said they have donated nearly $50 million to the Saddleback Memorial Foundation.
Their donation will be used to help fund Project Legacy, which is set to expand and upgrade Saddleback Memorial Medical Center in Laguna Hills.
Saddleback officials said they plan to spend some $190 million over 10 years to upgrade its facilities through Project Legacy. The hospital plans to expand its operating rooms, boost its imaging and cardiology services and build a new parking garage.
This isn’t the first gift to Saddleback from the Meiklejohns, who have lived in Leisure World for 34 years.
The couple also has provided funds for a radiation oncology center, the hospital’s critical care pavilion and an endowment for senior citizen advocacy programs. In all, they’ve now given more than $86 million to the hospital’s foundation.
William Meiklejohn, who retired from then-Northrop Corp. in 1970, said in a statement that he and his wife gave money to the hospital because of its efforts to improve the quality of life for South County residents.
Saddleback Memorial is one of three Orange County hospitals operated by Memorial Health Services, a nonprofit based in Long Beach.
In another big local pledge of late, Paul Merage said he’s giving $30 million to the University of California, Irvine’s business school, which will be named after the Hot Pockets inventor.
