Gabriel House of Care
"We knew from the time we opened our doors at St. Andrew's that it was not large enough to meet the increasing need. It has long been our dream to expand our services to help families. Gabriel House of Care is the fulfillment of that dream." Ed Asher Executive Director and a founder of St. Andrew's Lighthouse, Inc.
On March 25, 2010, the dream became a reality with the groundbreaking for Gabriel House of Care on the Mayo Clinic Florida campus. The 37,500 square foot facility will allow us to provide families the lodging and support needed to face and overcome the devastating burden of grave illness.
Mayo Clinic Florida and St. Andrew's Lighthouse, Inc. have formed a unique partnership to provide an innovative facility designed with the needs and well-being of patients in mind. Mayo Clinic will construct the lake-side house funded entirely by the generosity of donors.
The house will include:
- 30 spacious bedrooms with 2 queen size beds and private bath
- large shared kitchens to accommodate several families simultaneously
- dining room overlooking the grounds
- screened porch with a view of the lake
- nicely appointed exercise room
- private library
- comfortable great room
- quiet chapel
- "Southern Inn" ambiance and communal spaces to foster friendships and guest interaction
St. Andrew's will bring 10 years of experience in operating a hospital hospitality house and a foundation of caring for those in need of hope and healing to Gabriel House.
The Story Behind the Vision
In March 2008, Jorge Bacardi, a 63-year old retired executive from the Bacardi Co., received a double lung 
transplant at Mayo Clinic Florida. During his recovery from surgery, Mr. Bacardi visited St. Andrew's House of Care at the suggestion of a support group colleague. He observed the compassionate work being done there and recognized that more families were in need of extended-stay housing. He and his wife, Leslie, made the lead gift to name the new house on Mayo's campus Gabriel House of Care in honor of "Gabriel", the angel who provided Jorge with his new lungs. They later learned that Gabriel was Christopher Mark Gregory (pictured at right), a 19-year old student at Loyola University in New Orleans, who had suffered a fatal brain aneurism. The Bacardi gift to Mayo Clinic was made with deep gratitude to Christopher, his family, Dr. Cesar Keller and his Mayo transplant team. The Bacardi family has also made a lead gift to St. Andrew's Lighthouse to fund the opening of the new facility.
Click here to visit the Gabriel House of Care Website: www.gabrielhouseofcare.org