More than $600 million donated to Intermountain Health’s Primary Promise campaign

Four-year-old Abigail Rose, pictured with her mother, Alisha, was the first child to ever receive an in utero fetal surgery in Utah while still in her mother’s womb. (Photo courtesy Intermountain Health) 

Organizers of Intermountain Health’s Primary Promise campaign said it has inspired more than $642 million in community gifts to build the nation’s model health system for children. 

That makes it the most significant investment ever made in the health and wellness of children in Utah.

The five-year Primary Promise campaign exceeded its original goal of $500 million to bring its vision to life through a partnership between Intermountain Health and philanthropic members of the community.

“We are grateful for the Intermountain Foundation’s leadership, and the community’s support of Primary Promise, which has transformed how Intermountain Children’s Health cares for our children, created stronger systems of support, and helped every child we serve live their healthiest life,” said Mandy Richards, chief nursing executive at Intermountain Health and president of Intermountain Children’s Health. “Our community and generous donors have built a legacy of commitment that opens doors for children in our care today, and for those who will rely on us tomorrow to overcome their challenges and reach their full potential.”

Primary Promise is the single largest philanthropic initiative in Intermountain Health’s 50-year history. The multi-faceted plan addressed three goals:

• Strengthen Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital.
• Address the emerging needs of children.
• Extend access to comprehensive pediatric care to more communities across Utah and the Mountain West.

As the campaign progressed, so did its financial target — from $500 million to a minimum of $600 million — a bold shift in response to community calls for more behavioral health services that ultimately created the new Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital Behavioral Health Center, Taylorsville Campus. A second hospital campus, named the Larry H. & Gail Miller Family Campus, opened in February 2024 in Lehi as well.

Primary Promise was led by four civic and community business leaders:

• Gail Miller, founder, owner and past chair of Larry H. Miller Co. and chair emeritus of the Intermountain Health Board of Trustees.
• Crystal Maggelet, chair and CEO of FJ Management Inc. and Intermountain Health trustee emeritus.
• Steve Lund, co-founder and executive board chair of Nu Skin Enterprises.
• Spencer Zwick, co-founder and managing partner of Solamere Capital.

Abigail Rose is a living legacy of Primary Promise. In 2021, she became the first child ever to receive an in utero fetal surgery in Utah, through what is now called the Grant Scott Bonham Fetal Center at Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital. Previously, this complex and often life-saving surgery was available at only a few hospitals nationwide.

When Abigail Rose’s mom, Alisha, was pregnant, an ultrasound showed that her fetus had spina bifida — a condition that leaves an area of the spine open and nerves exposed. Doctors performed surgery on the fetus to address the anomaly. At the time, Alisha was around 25 weeks’ gestation. That gave time so the fetal spine could heal as part of its natural development.

A month after fetal surgery, Abigail Rose was born. She has grown to become an energetic, happy, mobile 4-year-old who lives with her family in Idaho Falls. Physical and occupational therapy has helped her to achieve milestones that her family never expected to see, from crawling to walking with a walker.

“We took a leap of faith with fetal surgery, and they saved Abby,” Alisha said. “The future for Primary Children’s patients is already brighter because of our fetal surgery. It’s phenomenal to have this in our region. The people who gave to Primary Promise have helped more kids than they’ll ever know. Abby is living proof.”

Intermountain Health’s work to build the nation’s model health system for children will continue, officials said. In Montana, specialty care access for children is expanding. In Nevada, Intermountain is creating a comprehensive campaign for children’s health, with plans to build Nevada’s first standalone children’s hospital in Las Vegas.

“With you, our donor family, we’ve created an enhanced environment to provide the best pediatric care in the world,” Gail Miller said. “Our legacy is that we did not hesitate. And this work will continue to move forward. We invite every member of the community, within and beyond these walls, to partner with us, so that together, we will forever keep ‘The Child First and Always.’”