WILLS EYE HOSPITAL ANNOUNCES HISTORIC MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR DONATION
The gift will establish a Strategic Initiatives Endowment Fund
PHILADELPHIA, December 8, 2025 – Wills Eye Hospital has announced a historic multimillion dollar gift from grateful patients and longtime supporters, James J. and Susan J. Anderson, to establish a Strategic Initiatives Endowment Fund for the Wills Eye Foundation. The non-profit specialty hospital serves more than 350,000 every year and has more top eye surgeons than any hospital in the United States.
The James J. Anderson and Susan J. Anderson Strategic Initiatives Fund will support future expansion of current and new facilities, renovations, new equipment, and state-of-the-art technology as well as essential needs and projects critical to patient care and organizational growth.
“This landmark gift further positions Wills Eye to launch bold new programs, seize time-sensitive opportunities, and respond to emerging needs,” said Julia A. Haller, MD, Chief Executive Officer and Ophthalmologist-in-Chief at Wills Eye Hospital. “We are deeply grateful to the Andersons for their enduring generosity and steadfast commitment to ensuring Wills Eye remains at the forefront of ophthalmic care, innovation, and leadership.”
This fund empowers the visionary leaders of Wills Eye Hospital by providing flexible, mission-driven resources to support the Chief Executive Officer in advancing the hospital’s most urgent and transformative priorities. It is designed to catalyze innovation, respond to emerging needs, and invest in strategic initiatives that fall outside traditional funding streams.
The Andersons own James J. Anderson Construction Co., Inc., a premier Philadelphia-area complete heavy and highway contractor, and SJA Construction, a ready-mix concrete supplier serving the region. Their work includes projects for the Philadelphia International Airport, SEPTA, PennDOT, and the Delaware River Joint Toll bridge Commission. Physicians from multiple services at Wills Eye Hospital have provided care to the couple for decades and this gift underscores the longstanding relationship between the philanthropists and advancing eye care in their community.
“Wills Eye Hospital is part of the bedrock of Philadelphia,” said the Andersons. “We have personally seen the care, compassion, and quality at the core of their services and are proud to support their operating needs and help further the organization’s commitment to agility, excellence, and impact.”
For more information about the role of philanthropy at Wills Eye Hospital, please visit https://www.willseye.org/giving/.
About Wills Eye Hospital
Wills Eye Hospital is a global leader in ophthalmology, established in 1832 as the nation’s first hospital specializing in eye care. U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks Wills Eye as one of America’s top ophthalmology centers since the survey began, has the most nationally ranked ophthalmologists in the country and is the #1 academic training in the USA for its residency program as voted by physicians in the nation. Wills Eye is a premier training site for all levels of medical education. Its resident and post-graduate training programs are among the most competitive in the country. The Vickie and Jack Farber Vision Research Center at Wills harnesses the core strengths of Wills, the close connection between innovative research and advanced patient care, to discover therapeutic breakthroughs. Wills provides the full range of primary and subspecialty eye care for improving and preserving sight, including cataract, cornea, retina, emergency care, glaucoma, neuro-ophthalmology, ocular oncology, oculoplastics, pathology, pediatric ophthalmology and ocular genetics, and refractive surgery. Ocular Services include the Wills Laser Correction Center, Low Vision Service, and Diagnostic Center. Its 24/7 Emergency Service is the only one of its kind in the region. Wills Eye also has a network of seven multi-specialty, ambulatory surgery centers throughout the tristate area.