Allentown Couple Pledges $2 Million to Lehigh Valley Hospital for Endowed Chair in the Pediatric Subspecialties

Bill and Phyllis Grube have created The William H. Grube Jr. and Phyllis Esterly Grube Endowed Chair in the Pediatric Subspecialties

Lehigh Valley, Pa. (March 13, 2007) – Nearly 30 years ago, Bill Grube started an innovative new business venture that ultimately led to saving lives. His Night Vision Equipment Company developed, among other sophisticated technologies, combat identification devices to help soldiers differentiate friend from foe on the battlefield.

“The devices reduced friendly fire casualties during Operation Desert Storm from 15 percent to less than 1 percent,” says Bill Grube, who started the business from the basement of his home and grew it into a thriving $100 million company.

Now, Bill and Phyllis, his wife of almost 40 years, have another vision that will help children and families in our community stay well. Joining the ranks of another visionary, Leonard Parker Pool, the Grubes contributed a $2 million gift to create The William H. Grube Jr. and Phyllis Esterly Grube Endowed Chair in the Pediatric Subspecialties. Interest generated from the endowed chair provides monies for research and education, both of which will help Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network (LVHHN) continue to attract the best doctors to care for children.

The chair was unveiled at a ceremony at the Grubes’ home tonight in front of about 100 LVHHN colleagues, trustees and donors, as well as the Grubes’ friends and family members.

The Grubes’ gift is inspired by their granddaughter, Kelsey. Two years ago, she had a bad headache, nausea and severe stomach pains. The specialty care she received outside the area at that time can now be found at LVHHN. The hospital’s expanding children’s care program includes many pediatric specialists not found elsewhere in our region, including pediatric neurologists, surgeons, and specialists in pediatric cancer and stomach disorders.

“When your child or grandchild is sick, it’s very stressful, and to have to travel outside the area is even more stressful,” Phyllis Grube says. “It is our desire that our chair bring more of the best children’s physicians right here, to ease the burden on families and provide the most complete care close to home.”

Just as their granddaughter inspired the Grubes’ gift, they hope to inspire their children and grandchildren to follow in their philanthropic footsteps. It’s why their entire family attended the unveiling. “They witnessed philanthropy in action,” Bill Grube says. “This is their chair.”

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