Hoag Hospital Foundation

06/07/2026

On National Cancer Survivors Day, we celebrate the strength, resilience and hope of cancer survivors like Shala Tavakoli.

After volunteering at Ground Zero following 9/11, Shala was later diagnosed with lung cancer believed to be linked to her exposure at the site. Years later, she faced another challenge when a metastatic brain tumor required emergency surgery at Hoag.

Through it all, Shala has met every obstacle with courage, humor and an unwavering commitment to helping others.

“Life is a gift. The best way to show appreciation for it is to give back.”

Read Shala's inspiring story of survivorship, gratitude and philanthropy: hoag.info/shala

After volunteering at Ground Zero following 9/11, Shala Tavakoli faced a cancer diagnosis believed to be linked to her exposure, but through every challenge, she has chosen generosity over fear.

06/06/2026

Arriving in the U.S. in the 1970s with just $8, Babu and Madhu Patel always believed in the opportunities ahead. Now, after 50 years of building a life in Southern California, the Irvine couple is giving back with an inspiring gift to the Boldly Hoag campaign!

Their generosity supports the transformational expansion of Hoag’s Sun Family Campus in Irvine, bringing advanced, world-class healthcare closer to home for Orange County families.

To read their full story and learn how you can support Boldly Hoag, visit hoag.info/patel

06/05/2026

In 1987, Newport Beach resident and breast cancer survivor Sandy Sewell founded Circle 1000 to support the Hoag Family Cancer Institute. Her idea was to gather a group of friends who would contribute at least $1000 annually and each was tasked with asking her own circle of friends to participate. From those simple beginnings, Circle 1000 expanded to more than 1000 friends who have raised more than $26M.

This incredible community dedication has directly funded groundbreaking clinical research, advanced life-saving technologies, and provided deeply compassionate patient care for families across Orange County.

To learn more about Circle 1000, visit hoag.info/Circle1000

05/30/2026

Earlier this month, the Melinda Hoag Smith Center for Healthy Living hosted its Extraordinary Families Celebration Day, marking the culmination of a month-long series of community mental health workshops.
 
The event brought families together for food, activities, and reflection on their mental health journeys. Attendees also connected directly with vital community resources, including Big Brothers Big Sisters, Purpose of Recovery, Families Forward, Share Ourselves, Human Options, Girls Inc., United Way, CHIOC, and Bracken’s Kitchen.
 
We are deeply grateful to the Pacific Life Foundation for making this impactful month possible. Your partnership provided local families with the tools and resources needed to build stronger mental health and deeper connections.

05/27/2026

“Maternal mental health is fundamental to the wellbeing of families. When we care for mothers, we are really caring for the community at large.”
-Mercedes Szpunar, MD, PhD
Tsao Family Foundation Endowed Chair in Maternal Mental Health
Medical Director, Hoag Maternal Mental Health Program

Link more at hoag.info/TsaoChair

05/27/2026

Last week, we celebrated the beam signing and topping-off ceremony for the new CareMar Recovery Center at Hoag.

This incredible progress is fueled by philanthropy, including a transformative $25 million gift from the Martin and Pickup families. Together with our generous donor community, we are building a lasting legacy of hope, healing, and compassionate care.

Donor support remains vital as we look to expand clinical programs, recruit dedicated therapists, and provide crucial patient scholarships.

To learn more about giving opportunities in support of the CareMar Recovery Center and view photos from the beam signing, visit hoag.info/caremar-topping-off

05/25/2026

This Memorial Day, we stand in gratitude for those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation. Their legacy lives on in the communities they protected and the lives they touched.

05/24/2026

With the support of our philanthropic community, Hoag was able to move forward with both speed and focus, becoming one of only a few non-academic medical centers in California to achieve FACT accreditation, the highest national standard in cellular therapy. It means that patients in Orange County can access some of today’s most advanced cancer treatments close to home.
 
We are especially grateful to philanthropic partners Mike and Janae Muzzy, whose generosity helped bring this vision to life. Their support allowed Hoag to build the foundation of its Cell Therapy Program, recruit expert leaders, and develop the infrastructure required to meet national standards. Read more at [Link In Bio].

05/24/2026

We are deeply thankful to the Ham family for their incredible gift of $87,652.35 through the Live Like Rich Fund and golf tournament, in honor of Richard Ham.

The donation supports the Hoag Family Cancer Institute, where Richard received care for pancreatic cancer. This meaningful gift advances early detection programs and innovative research—bringing hope to patients and families facing this disease.

For Richard and his loved ones, Hoag became more than a hospital—it was a second home. This tribute honors the compassion and care he experienced, while helping ensure others receive the same.

05/23/2026