Conrad Prebys Makes Historic Gift to Launch Prebys Cardiovascular Institute
New cardiovascular institute named in his honor
Conrad Prebys never dreamed that one day he would help fight the disease that threatened his life.
But in 2011, his leadership gift of $45 million – our largest donation on record – set in motion the construction of the premier heart hospital on the West Coast.
Giving back is the greatest reward
When he was just 7 years old, Conrad battled a serious heart infection that kept him in bed for a full year. But that early experience also instilled a strong sense of self-determination and confidence. As one of five boys raised by hard-working parents in a small Indiana factory town, he was out selling newspapers by age 8. When most of his high school friends went off to work in the steel mills, Conrad went off to college and graduated from Indiana University.
As a young man, he arrived in San Diego with just $500 and set about to make his mark. He started building homes, then founded Progress Construction and Management Co., and ultimately became one of the area’s most successful builders. However, it is philanthropy that brings him the greatest satisfaction.
“I’m so proud to be associated with the great minds in medicine, creating the most advanced heart care center ever built in San Diego. It is a dream come true,” says Conrad.
Support the Campaign for Cardiovascular Care
Prebys Cardiovascular Institute opened in March 2015, but the Campaign for Cardiovascular Care that helped make it possible, is still under way. Your help is needed to continue the medical advances that support Scripps’ excellence in heart care.