Qualcomm founder gives $6 million to Children’s Hospital

The co-founder of Qualcomm Inc. donated $6 million to Rady Children’s Hospital to help fund the construction of a patient care pavilion, it was announced today.

The gift, from the Viterbi Family Foundation of the Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego, will also fund the development of a hematology and oncology center, according to the hospital.

La Jolla resident Andrew J. Viterbi is the co-founder of San Diego-based Qualcomm, which

makes microchips for wireless devices.

“This gift represents an important investment, not just in the future of our hospital but in the lives of children,’’ said John Davies, chair of the Rady Children’s Hospital board.

“By funding construction of our new Patient Care Pavilion and the Hematology/Oncology Care Center, the Viterbis are helping ensure that we will have the capacity to serve all of the children in our community,’’ he said.

In recognition of the gift, the outpatient clinic in the Hematology/Oncology Care Center will be named in honor of the Viterbi family, according to Children’s Hospital.

The 38-bed hematology and oncology center will be located inside the 279,000-square-foot Patient Care Pavilion, which is already under construction. Both are scheduled to open in 2010.