Tampa General Hospital Celebrates Reopening of Patient Transplant Houses on Davis Islands Campus

Corporate Philanthropy Partner Rooms To Go and a grant from the Community Foundation Tampa Bay helped to refurnish the homes, which flooded during Hurricane Helene.

Tampa, FL (April 29, 2025) – The Tampa General Hospital (TGH) Foundation announced that the hospital’s two transplant houses -- which serve as homes away from home for outpatient transplant patients who must travel long distances for treatment -- have been refurnished thanks to Rooms To Go and the Community Foundation Tampa Bay.

Each house can accommodate six adults and features three bedrooms (each with two beds and a private bathroom), two living room areas, a kitchen, a dining room and a screened porch.

“Newly transplanted patients have required follow-up visits two to three times a week during the first two months after organ transplant surgery,” said Dr. Kiran Dhanireddy, vice president and chief of the TGH Transplant Institute. “The transplant houses located on our hospital campus on Davis Islands provide an invaluable service to these patients and their families during their road to recovery.”

Last year, Rooms To Go generously donated new furniture for both houses in honor of the 50^th anniversary of the first transplant at TGH. Before the new furniture could be enjoyed by patients, Hurricane Helene overwhelmed the properties and destroyed the furniture.

A $25,000 critical needs grant awarded by Community Foundation Tampa Bay helped to replace the furnishings in April after Tampa General completed repairs to the homes.

“Supporting the patient transplant houses at TGH is about more than replacing furniture — it’s about restoring peace of mind for families navigating a medical crisis,” said Jesse Coraggio, Senior vice president of community impact at Community Foundation Tampa Bay. “This grant reflects our commitment to long-term recovery following the storms and to standing with the most vulnerable in our community when it matters most.”

Rooms To Go also donated more furniture for both houses, which will reopen to patients in May.

“Rooms To Go is delighted to support Tampa General Hospital and the patients who rely on the transplant houses during their treatment there,” said Jeff Marple, corporate executive for Rooms To Go. “We believe providing a comfortable and attractive space will aid in the healing process and are proud to be part of it.”

Rooms To Go and its foundation has been a community partner of TGH for more than 20 years. In 2021, the company donated $100,000 to support the academic health system’s ongoing research and treatment efforts brought on by the COVID-19 global pandemic. Rooms To Go also furnished both transplant houses when they originally opened in 2014.

“We are so grateful for the continued support of Rooms To Go and for Community Foundation Tampa Bay for stepping up after an emergency – both are community partners who understand our commitment to provide quality care for our transplant patients,” said Frann Leppla, executive vice president and chief philanthropy officer of Tampa General Hospital. “These donations will have a big impact in creating a comfortable and modern home away from home for our patients when they need it the most.”

In January, Tampa General was ranked first in the nation for transplants, completing the most procedures of any transplant center in the United States during 2024. Having completed 889 transplants between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2024, Tampa General set a new national record for transplant procedures in one year.

Rooms To Go is a member of the TGH Foundation’s Corporate Philanthropy Partners program.