A local organization is putting some big money behind a project to improve patient care.

Richmond County Savings Foundation donated $1.5 million on Monday to Richmond University Medical Center.

The money will go toward the hospital's $60 million project to construct a new Emergency Department.

The state-of-the-art facility will feature 50 treatment rooms, a pediatric unit and an expanded surgical trauma center.

"We're the only borough without a public hospital so funding RUM-C to expand its emergency services is a priority," said Cesar Claro of the Richmond County Savings Foundation.

"Certainly with the development of the North Shore this is really an increasing need that we need to address," said Daniel Messina, the President and CEO of RUMC. 

The new trauma center will be named after Doctor William Frederick who died in 2013.

Frederick was a well-known vascular surgeon and founding board member of the Richmond County Savings Foundation.