Billionaire philanthropist Dwight Schar and his wife Martha have a long history of charitable giving, having played a critical role in securing the 420,000-square-foot former ExxonMobil building for Inova – before gifting $50 million to fund its transformation into a multidisciplinary cancer and research center.
This article will focus on the Schars’ $75 million donation to Inova’s heart and vascular programs, with the couple making history by gifting the largest single donation the non-profit has ever received.
In the lobby of the Inova Schar Cancer Institute, red-coated ambassadors await visitors, stationed behind a gleaming welcome command center. Just beyond is a sculpted installation of the word “HOPE” decorated with art created by patients, staff, and caregivers. Bathed in sunlight streaming through the glass-box lobby, the art installation is just one of 500 art works featured throughout the building. Finished with glass, wood, and stone, the lobby is tastefully decorated, feeling more like a spa retreat or a high-end hotel, a nuance intended to instill a sense of healing. Devoid of the flickering fluorescent lighting, tiled floors, and drop ceiling traditionally associated with institutional buildings, waiting areas are equipped with living room furniture and fireplaces.
This lifesaving facility would never have been possible without the support of Dwight and Martha Schar. After kickstarting the creation of this state-of-the-art multidisciplinary cancer and research center with a $50 million donation, the Schars subsequently doubled down on their investment, gifting a further $75 million to Inova’s heart and vascular programs. The historic donation is just the latest in a long list of generous donations the NVR, Inc. founder has gifted to the community. NVR, Inc., the Fortune 500 company founded by Mr. Schar in 1980, is responsible for constructing more than 110,000 homes across Greater Washington and more than 535,000 houses in the 15 states where it has homebuilding operations, ranking it as America’s fourth-largest homebuilder.
Following Dwight and Martha Schar’s generous donation, Inova renamed its dedicated heart and vascular hospital to Inova Schar Heart and Vascular. One of the largest gifts to advance heart health in the country, the donation will accelerate innovative cardiovascular care throughout Northern Virginia through the expansion and enhancement of existing offerings. The funds will be used for research, outreach, specialty services, and prevention and early diagnosis. In addition, the gift will also pave the way for Inova Schar Heart and Vascular to recruit and retain top care team talent, as well as enabling the organization to promote health care equity across Northern Virginia and beyond.