Nick Foligno

Nick Foligno donates $1 million to hospitals that helped save his daughter

Published Nov. 15, 2016 2:41 p.m. ET

foxsports

Two hospitals helped Nick Foligno's daughter through a congenital heart defect nearly three years ago, and now the Blue Jackets forward is showing his appreciation through a major gift.

Foligno and his wife, Janelle, announced Tuesday that they would be making a $1 million donation to be split between Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, OH and Boston Children’s. Nationwide Children’s Hospital first diagnosed the couple's infant daughter, Milana, and, at three weeks old, the Boston Children’s performed the surgery that helped save her life. Milana will turn 3 on Friday.

The Folignos initially wanted to keep the gift private but changed their mind upon realizing a public donation could help raise awareness.

"We wanted to do it anonymously, but when both hospitals voiced that this could make such an impact and was such a good cause for other people, we decided to do it publicly," Janelle Foligno said, via NHL.com. "We're really happy with our decision, and hopefully we can bring a lot of awareness to congenital heart defects and to both hospitals and the amazing work both are doing and many hospitals all over the world are doing."

Their donations will help fund research into cardiovascular diseases, and the Nationwide Children's will open a newly-named Foligno Family Cardiovascular Research Lab.

"How can we help people who are going to be in a similar situation?" Nick Foligno said. "We're so proud as a family to tell our story and bring awareness to what's going on in the world with our young ones. We're not the only family affected by this. To try and help others is something that's important to us."

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Nick Foligno

Columbus Blue Jackets

National Hockey League