ROCKPORT — Pen Bay Medical Center has named its newest building the Charlotte and Christopher Beebe Health Center to recognize the couple’s generous gift to support its construction. Completed last December, the 42,000-square-foot building brings together under one roof most of the hospital’s primary care practices. It also provides space where specialists from the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital at Maine Medical Center can meet with patients in Rockport, reducing the need for children with special health needs to travel to Portland.

“We believe that improving access to primary care is the best way to improve the health of our community, and the Beebe Health Center is a critical part of that effort,” said Mark Fourre, MD, president of PBMC and Waldo County General Hospital, in a news release. “We’re especially proud to have this work affirmed by Chris and Charlotte, whose generous gift is yet another example of their deep commitment to the people of the Midcoast region.”

For more than three decades, Christopher owned Rockland-based SteelPro, Inc., guiding the company to become a major local employer and a national leader in the fabrication of specialized stainless steel tanks for the pharmaceutical and other industries.

“In 2014, as a testament to his commitment to his employees and our local region, he sold SteelPro to its employees, who have carried on his legacy of excellence,” said PBMC.

Charlotte was as committed to SteelPro, its employees, their families and their community as her husband. She believed that everyone had a right to a safe home and nourishing food, and generously supported organizations working to support housing and food insecurity.

Charlotte passed away last November, but the Beebe gift is a testament to the generosity for which she and Chris have always been known, according to PBMC.

“Charlotte and I were very pleased to be presented the opportunity to support such an important project that improves access to primary care for our community,” said Chris. “I would encourage everyone, and especially every business, to support the hospital as the best way to improve the lives of everyone in our community.”

The signage for the Charlotte and Christopher Beebe Health Center is in production and is expected to be installed by Thanksgiving.

The Charlotte and Christopher Beebe Health Center has been funded solely through philanthropic support, including a $2 million gift from MaineHealth, a $500,000 gift from the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital and local donations made through the Pen Bay Waldo Healthcare Foundation. At present, the foundation is $1.5M away from completing a $21 million capital campaign goal that supports not just the Beebe Health Center but the expansion of the PBMC Emergency Department that will nearly double its capacity when construction is completed in 2022.

“PBMC is grateful to the volunteers and generous lead donors who have brought the campaign to this point,” said PBMC. “Now it is asking for everyone’s help to put it over the top.”

To learn more about the Health Center or the campaign, please visit www.penbaywaldofoundation.org.

Pen Bay Medical Center

Pen Bay Medical Center is part of MaineHealth, a not-for-profit integrated health system consisting of nine local hospital systems, a comprehensive behavioral healthcare network, diagnostic services, home health agencies, and more than 1,600 employed and independent physicians working together through an Accountable Care Organization. With more than 19,000 employees, MaineHealth is the largest health system in northern New England and provides preventive care, diagnosis and treatment to 1.1 million residents in Maine and New Hampshire. For more information, please visit pbmc.org.