Larry the Cable Guy announced Monday his charitable organization, the Git-R-Done Foundation, will donate $1.2 million to develop a new 14-bed children’s rehabilitation center within the Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital. The new facility will be named “The Alexis Verzal Children’s Rehabilitation Hospital at Madonna” in honor of the 13-month-old Texas girl who suffered a brain injury at her daycare in 2008.

“I had the chance to see Madonna’s work in helping kids overcome all types of injuries and illness and after I met Alexis and saw the big courage in her little body, I knew we had to dedicate the hospital in her honor,” stated Larry the Cable Guy.

Madonna is one of only eight hospitals in the United States to hold international Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) accreditation in both brain injury rehabilitation and pediatric specialty programs, and is one of only four accredited in both spinal cord system of care and pediatric specialty programs. This means that Madonna meets the highest standards relating to staff competency, programming, patient-family education, outcomes and advocacy.

“Since opening our pediatric unit in 2007, we have attracted more young patients than we currently have room to serve,” said Marsha Lommel, president and CEO of Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital. “The new Alexis Verzal Children’s Rehabilitation Hospital will be a self-contained hospital within Madonna, offering the most advanced pediatric rehabilitation care and technology in a warm and welcoming environment for the entire family.”

Remodeling for the new children’s rehabilitation area will begin in January 2010, and the first phase is expected to be completed by July 1, 2010.