Inova receives $75M donation for heart, vascular programs

Northern Virginia philanthropists Dwight and Martha Schar have made a $75 million matching gift to support Inova Health System’s heart and vascular treatment programs, Inova announced Tuesday. The Schars have donated a total of $126 million to the Falls Church-based health system since 1993, including $50 million in 2015 to establish Fairfax County’s Inova Schar Cancer Institute.

The Schars’ gift will be used to focus on research, outreach, prevention and early diagnosis of cardiovascular ailments, including hiring more health care professionals and growing specialty services in what will be called Inova Schar Heart and Vascular, as well as promoting health equity in Northern Virginia, the health system said in its announcement. The Schars challenged the community to match their pledge, which is among the largest in the nation to benefit cardiovascular medical treatments.

“The investment Martha and I made to support Inova’s vision for a world-class cancer center was one of the best investments of my life,” said Dwight Schar, who founded Reston-based Fortune 500 homebuilding and mortgage banking business NVR Inc. and retired last year as its chair. “We truly believe Inova provides exceptional quality of care and an exceptional patient experience, and we want everyone in our community to have access to this world-class care in their own backyard. Having the very best cancer care here in Northern Virginia has provided thousands of families facing a cancer diagnosis the ability to receive life-saving care close to home, and now we’re hoping to do the same for heart health. Today we’re investing again in Inova’s vision, and we know that Inova will exceed our expectations. We are also calling on the people of Northern Virginia to match our gift over the next year. We all need to invest in our community’s health care.”

The Schars’ donation will benefit Inova services including advanced heart failure and lung disease care; minimally invasive cardiac surgery; vascular medicine and surgery; women’s heart health research; and wellness and prevention, including health education and access to care.

“Countless lives will be transformed by this remarkable gift as it allows Inova to push the boundaries of medical research, innovation and patient care,” said Inova President and CEO Dr. J. Stephen Jones. “We are grateful for this generous donation by Dwight and Martha Schar. It will have a lasting impact on heart health and will accelerate the trajectory of our mission to provide world-class health care to everyone, in every community we have the privilege to serve — one heartbeat at a time.”

Inova, which employs more than 20,000 people, has five hospitals in Northern Virginia, including the region’s only Level 1 trauma center, and plans for the new $1 billion Inova Alexandria Hospital at the former Landmark Mall were approved in March by the Alexandria City Council. The medical campus is expected to open in 2028.