$2 Million Gift to Benefit Children’s Services at Martin Memorial

On his 82nd birthday, David Smythe decided to give a gift rather than receive one.

So on Aug. 10, Smythe made a cash gift of $2 million to Martin Memorial, benefiting children’s services at the health system. In gratitude for his generosity, a portion of Martin Memorial Medical Center that houses the maternal-child department will be named in his honor.

It is the second large gift from Smythe, who made a $500,000 gift to Martin Memorial in June 2008 after being impressed with the care he received at the health system’s wound medicine center. In November 2008, the David L. Smythe Wound Center officially opened its doors after moving from its previous location to a new office at 314 Hospital Ave. in Stuart.

“Getting a gift is not as rewarding as giving a gift. That’s why I wanted to do this on my birthday, because you receive a tremendous benefit from the act of giving,” Smythe said. “I wanted to be able to help children and their families and this is one way I can accomplish that.”

Funds will be used to support Martin Memorial’s maternal-child, pediatric rehabilitation and pediatric programs in Martin and St. Lucie counties. In addition, an endowment established by the gift will also provide annual funding for those programs as well as other programs within the health system.

Smythe, who splits his time between Stuart and Summit, N.J., has had a long history of community involvement, thanks in part to his business success. In 1959 he purchased an American Motor Corp. franchise in Summit and a few years later opened Smythe Volvo there. Today, the Smythe Volvo Organization is celebrating 50 years in the automobile sales industry and is one of the largest Volvo dealerships in the United States.

“David has created a legacy of generosity that will benefit Treasure Coast residents for many years to come,” said Mark E. Robitaille, president and chief executive officer of Martin Memorial. “He truly understands the critical role philanthropy plays in providing exceptional health care to the community. Without it, we could not offer many life-saving programs such as those at the Robert and Carol Weissman Cancer Center or the Frances Langford Heart Center.”