Development · Southwest Las Vegas
Canarelli family commits $50 million to Southern Nevada's first standalone children's hospital
Larry and Heidi Canarelli pledged $50 million toward Intermountain Health's planned children's hospital in the southwest valley, where construction is slated to begin in late October, the Review-Journal reported.
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What happened
Larry and Heidi Canarelli have committed $50 million toward building Southern Nevada's first standalone children's hospital, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported, citing an announcement from the Intermountain Health Foundation. In recognition of the gift, a tower at the Intermountain Health hospital will carry their name.
Construction on the hospital is slated to begin in late October, according to the Review-Journal. The project is planned for the southwest valley.
Who is behind the gift
Larry Canarelli founded American West Homes, a Las Vegas-based homebuilding company that sold to Pulte Group in 2019, the Review-Journal reported. Before the sale, he held one of the largest land inventories in Las Vegas.
In a joint statement, the couple said they had watched generations of families settle in Nevada while building homes here. "Every child deserves access to great care close to home," the Canarellis said, adding that they hope the gift helps keep Nevada families together during hard times.
What the hospital will include
The Canarelli tower
Intermountain said in a statement that the named tower will provide advanced inpatient care for children with complex medical needs. The health system described the tower as a "cornerstone" of the full standalone children's hospital campus.
Site, size and cost
The site was unveiled in October 2024, according to the Review-Journal. The hospital will sit on around 34 acres at UNLV's 122-acre Harry Reid Research and Technology Park in the southwest valley.
The Review-Journal reported that the hospital will open with around 200 beds and around 2,000 to 3,000 caregivers, and that it will cost over $1 billion. It is expected to open by 2030.
Specialists the hospital hopes to attract
Mitch Cloward, Intermountain Health Region president, said the hospital hopes to bring pediatric medical and surgical subspecialists to the region, including ear, nose and throat surgeons, neurosurgeons and behavioral health specialists. "Soon, a child in Las Vegas, who needs the highest level of intensive care, will be able to get it here," Cloward said in a statement.
Other major donors
The Canarelli pledge follows a $25 million gift from the Raiders in August, which the Review-Journal described as the largest donation in team history. That total included $10 million from the team and $5 million each from owners Mark Davis, Egon Durban and Michael Meldman.
MGM Resorts International President and CEO Bill Hornbuckle and his wife, Wendy, were named last year as co-chairs of the Nevada Campaign for Kids, according to the Review-Journal. The campaign is a philanthropic effort to support construction of the hospital. For more on large projects reshaping the valley, see our development coverage.
Where the project stands
The hospital's design, clinical activities and workforce planning are underway, the Review-Journal reported. That workforce planning includes recruitment.
What to watch next
- The start of construction, which is slated for late October, according to the Intermountain Health Foundation announcement.
- Progress on design, clinical activities and workforce planning, including recruitment, which the Review-Journal reported are underway.
- The hospital's anticipated opening by 2030 with around 200 beds.
