Philanthropy Newsroom

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and Texas Children’s Hospital today announced a $150 million gift from Kinder Foundation. The transformational gift creates Kinder Children’s Cancer Center, a joint venture of UT MD Anderson and Texas Children’s, with a single mission: to end childhood cancer.

The gift is one of the largest philanthropic donations made to an American pediatric hospital and one of the largest in the history of the Texas Medical Center (TMC). With this extraordinary support, Kinder Children’s Cancer Center aims to be the nation’s largest and most comprehensive cancer center focused exclusively on children. The center will be based in a new facility centrally located in the TMC on the 6700 block of Main Street in Houston.

“Our philanthropic efforts center on supporting transformational projects in Houston, and this initiative exemplifies that mission in every way,” said Rich Kinder, chairman of Kinder Foundation. “We were deeply impressed by the extraordinary leadership and unwavering commitment of both UT MD Anderson and Texas Children’s to pursue a bold, collaborative model of care. It is a rare and powerful moment when two leading organizations come together to create something entirely new – something capable of reshaping the future of pediatric cancer care. We are honored to contribute to what we believe will be a world-renowned center of excellence. This collaboration is not only a gift to Houston, but to families everywhere who face the unimaginable.”

The generous support of Kinder Foundation will serve as the lead gift for a multi-year campaign to secure funds for the new facility and for breakthrough pediatric oncology research and patient care. This unprecedented investment and collaboration are a testament to the unwavering commitment by both institutions to end childhood cancer.

Kinder Children’s Cancer Center will launch in early 2026, with plans to build a new TMC facility with inpatient beds, ambulatory care and state-of-the-art research labs. Plans are for Kinder Children’s Cancer Center to be connected by a sky bridge to Texas Children’s Hospital, the largest children’s hospital in the nation. Designed from the ground up and purpose built with children and families in mind, the center will provide specialized oncology care in a healing environment, uniting scientific innovation and clinical excellence to close the gap between research and real-world impact for children facing cancer.

“All of us at Texas Children’s are profoundly grateful for the incredible generosity of Rich and Nancy,” said Debra F. Sukin, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Texas Children’s. “This historic gift is a testament to the vision and future impact of our groundbreaking collaboration with UT MD Anderson and our shared mission of eradicating pediatric cancer. Our state-of-the-art facility will expand access for children in need of the most advanced care, accelerate clinical research, education and training and ultimately create a comprehensive program equipped to lead the global fight against childhood cancer. At Texas Children’s, our team is committed to solving the unsolvable every day, and thanks to Kinder Foundation and our collaboration with MD Anderson, we have the support to do so for many generations to come.”

Combining the collective scale and complementary expertise of the nation’s largest comprehensive pediatric health system with the nation’s top cancer center under one roof, Kinder Children’s Cancer Center will work to generate more cures by accelerating drug development for childhood cancer patients using UT MD Anderson’s powerful clinical trials engine and industry relationships. This collaborative effort will improve access for children in need of specialized cancer care, ensuring children with cancer can live rich, full lives and move into adulthood free of cancer.

“We are immensely grateful to Rich and Nancy for their support and for trusting UT MD Anderson and Texas Children’s to bring this vision to life. Aligned with our mission to end cancer, we are proud to work with Texas Children’s to build what will be the world’s preeminent children’s cancer center,” said Peter WT Pisters, M.D., president of UT MD Anderson. “Kinder Children’s Cancer Center will become a global destination for comprehensive childhood cancer care and survivorship, transforming how children and their families experience diagnosis, treatment and survivorship. We know families will find comfort and hope in knowing that these two leading health care organizations are joining forces to focus exclusively on children’s cancers.”

Both institutions are recognized as leaders in clinical and laboratory research, offering new opportunities for collaborative drug development and clinical trial programs focused on addressing unmet needs for children. The new center will be able to offer more trials for children with cancer than any other institution, which provides innovative options for those patients and speeds the pace of progress.

At the center’s launch, pediatric oncology patient care will be consolidated at Texas Children’s Hospital, bringing clinical teams together in a unified effort to care for children with cancer and to support their families. Radiation Oncology will remain at UT MD Anderson, and Adolescent/Young Adult programs will be provided at both institutions. Kinder Children’s Cancer Center will be governed by a board with equal representation from both institutions, and an international search will be conducted to identify a physician and administrator to lead the center.

The gift was announced this evening at an event hosted at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Drs. Sukin and Pisters celebrated this milestone alongside Nancy and Rich Kinder, Kevin P. Eltife, Chairman, UT System Board of Regents, and Park Shaper, Chairman, Texas Children’s Board of Trustees.

Together, these efforts mark a nation-leading step forward in the work to end childhood cancer —bringing hope, healing and breakthroughs to patients and families around the world.

MIDLAND ― The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center presented its annual Polo on the Prairie fundraising event on April 26 in West Texas, raising more than $1 million. Now in its 39th year, Polo on the Prairie is MD Anderson’s longest-running fundraising event and has raised $12 million for numerous education, care, research and prevention programs across MD Anderson.

This year’s event drew more than 1,400 attendees to Rancho Verde in Breckenridge, Texas, for a day filled with activities, including a polo tournament — with the Mayer Ranch team of Kenneth Mayer, Clark Mayer, Vance Miller and Robert Stenzel winning the championship trophy — a chuckwagon barbeque provided by Joe Allen’s Pit Bar-B-Que, a private concert by Charley Crockett and a fireworks show by Pyro Shows of Texas.

“Polo on the Prairie is more than just a polo match,” said Henry Musselman, long-time event host and member of the MD Anderson Cancer Center Board of Visitors. “It represents the heart of our community by honoring and supporting those who have been touched by cancer. This event is a movement fueled by generosity, hope and an unwavering commitment to saving lives.”

MD Anderson provides life-saving care to West Texans
MD Anderson has a strong presence in the West Texas area, with many local supporters and patients. Since MD Anderson’s doors opened in 1944, more than 10,000 Midland/Odessa-area residents have sought care at the institution — with more than 1,000 of those patients seen in the last year alone.

With cancer incidence estimates in this region increasing across all cancer types over the next 10 years, MD Anderson’s work to expand its clinical reach, to elevate the patient experience and to expedite scientific breakthroughs is — and will continue to be — crucial to the health of community members in the Permian Basin.

“I extend my deepest thanks to the Musselmans and to the West Texas community for making Polo on the Prairie so successful, year after year,” said Peter WT Pisters, M.D., president of MD Anderson. “This event provides crucial funding for programs across MD Anderson that support our patients and their loved ones. Together, we are making a difference for the people of Texas, the nation and the world.”

Polo on the Prairie is deeply rooted in West Texas tradition
For nearly four decades, MD Anderson’s Polo on the Prairie has signaled the arrival of spring in West Texas. The Texas-sized event combines equestrian prowess, top-notch entertainment, mouthwatering chuckwagon barbecue and dazzling fireworks in support of MD Anderson’s mission to end cancer.

Now a cherished philanthropic tradition, the event was inspired by the late Mary Anne McCloud, of Eastland, and her son-in-law, Henry Musselman, of Midland. Together with the late Charles LeMaistre, M.D., former president of MD Anderson, they cultivated an idea for an event to raise awareness about groundbreaking cancer research and care at the nation’s leading cancer hospital while also honoring and supporting those affected by cancer.

Musselman transformed a sprawling pasture on his family’s Albany ranch into a regulation-sized polo field, enlisting the help of family and friends to bring this vision to life. What began as an intimate gathering on the family ranch has turned into a legendary, can’t-miss annual event at Rancho Verde in Breckenridge, drawing hundreds of MD Anderson supporters, polo enthusiasts and athletes.

MD Anderson extends special thanks to event sponsors Melinda and Henry Musselman; event committee members Michele Arnot, Suzan Cook, Pat Everett, Liz Green, Prissy Harvick, Michelle Jones, Virginia Musselman and Marci Pearson; and the many individuals and sponsors who contributed to the success of this year’s event.

DALLAS ― Award-winning film and television producer/director/writer Taylor Sheridan offered an intimate peek into his career, creative inspiration and personal life during a fireside chat Thursday night at A Conversation With a Living Legend® North Texas, an annual fundraising event benefiting The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. The Dallas event, held at the Ritz Carlton, afforded guests exclusive, behind-the-scenes stories from Sheridan’s critically acclaimed works in an in-depth, onstage interview by his close friend and fellow philanthropist, Charlotte Jones, chief brand officer and co-owner of the Dallas Cowboys. The sold-out, 400-person event raised more than $1.8 million for cancer research and patient programs at MD Anderson.

“For 34 years, funds raised at this event have played a tremendous role in helping cancer patients and their families,” said Peter WT Pisters, M.D., president of MD Anderson. “I am grateful to Taylor Sheridan and to the North Texas community for coming together in continued support of our shared mission to end cancer.”

Shelby Goff chaired this year’s event, alongside chair-elect, Ann Higginbottom, and honorary chairs, the Gene and Jerry Jones family.

The event revolved around a shared sense of family, kicking off with a moving patient testimonial and a heartfelt message of thanks to Sheridan and to the audience from Sheridan’s friend and Jones’ husband, Amir Rozwadowski, a cancer survivor and patient of MD Anderson. Additionally, Kit Moncrief, a longtime supporter and a member of the MD Anderson Cancer Center Board of Visitors, was called onstage to accept the institution’s prestigious Making Cancer History® Award for her commitment to MD Anderson.

During the interview, Sheridan and Jones recalled special moments from their friendship and how they bonded over the Dallas Cowboys football team — noting how Sheridan has become a good luck charm for the team, so long as he’s standing at his spot in the Jones family’s box suite. 

Sheridan’s relationship with the Jones family inspired him to include Jerry Jones in a recent episode of Landman, in which Jones shares how he bought the Cowboys so he could spend time with his children — all of whom work for the team. Sheridan said they got the shot in one take without a dry eye on set, but Jones acted like a professional and allowed them to film several takes.

Sheridan also talked about growing up in North Texas and how he and his wife, Nicole, have purposefully laid deep roots in Texas with the purchase of Bosque Ranch in Weatherford and the Four Sixes Ranch in Guthrie. Sheridan credits his time on his two ranches as a major source of inspiration for his creative works.

“As a storyteller, you have to write what you know and what fascinates you, not just what you think other people want you to write about,” Sheridan said. As such, Sheridan said he makes a point of being where he’s most inspired.

The evening concluded with Sheridan applauding MD Anderson's mission to end cancer, noting that proceeds from the evening will enable doctors at MD Anderson to continue saving the lives of patients like his friend Amir Rozwadowski.

“We’re all here for the same reason. We’ve all been touched by cancer. I lost my grandfather and a dear friend to cancer. Anything I can do to help further the cause is a pleasure and a duty,” Sheridan said. “MD Anderson has made incredible strides towards eradicating cancer, and it’s an honor to be here tonight supporting their work.”

A legend in film and television
Sheridan is an Academy Award®-nominated screenwriter, Emmy®-nominated producer, and the creator, writer, director and executive producer of multiple record-breaking Paramount Network series including Yellowstone, Mayor of Kingstown, Tulsa King, 1883, Lioness and Landman. Sheridan currently has numerous projects in various stages of development and production. His newest project, The Madison, is set to be released in late 2025, starring Michelle Pfeiffer, Kurt Russell, Matthew J. Fox and Patrick J. Adams as a New York City family in the Madison River Valley of central Montana. The second season of 1923, starring Helen Mirren and Harrison Ford, premiered on February 23, 2025.

In 2017, Sheridan made his debut as a writer/director with his critically acclaimed film Wind River, the conclusion to his modern frontier trilogy, earning Best Director honors at the Cannes Film Festival. He previously wrote Hell or High Water, a drama that was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay.

With strong ties to the North Texas community, Sheridan owns and operates two Texas ranches: the legendary Four Sixes (6666) Ranch and Bosque Ranch. He also recently opened the Four Sixes Ranch Steakhouse at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas, a pop-up restaurant featuring Sheridan’s own Four Sixes Ranch Brand Beef, which retails premium quality beef sourced from 6666 and a network of various ranches. 

A legendary North Texas event
Since A Conversation With a Living Legend originated in North Texas in 1990 under the visionary leadership of Lyda Hill, it has become one of MD Anderson's signature fundraising events, replicated across the country in Houston, San Antonio, Washington, D.C., Las Vegas and Atlanta. 

Over the past three decades, Living Legend events featuring live and virtual interviews with notable honorees have raised more than $55 million to support MD Anderson's mission to end cancer – with donations from the North Texas event series representing $25 million of that total.

This year's presenting sponsors for the North Texas event included AT&T, Lyda Hill Philanthropies, Cami and John Goff, Kit Moncrief, and Catherine and Sam Susser on behalf of Susser Bank.

In an effort to improve public health and reduce cancer risk in East Texas, leaders in Beaumont are working with The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center to launch Be Well™ Beaumont through a newly announced $10 million gift from ExxonMobil. Community members, collaborators and representatives from MD Anderson kicked off the 10-year initiative today in Beaumont. 

Be Well Beaumont aims to promote wellness and to lower cancer risk among community members by providing them with cancer prevention education and tools. This builds on Be Well™ Baytown, MD Anderson’s inaugural program that has been supported by ExxonMobil since 2016. That initiative has reached more than 80% of residents, providing wellness strategies that have been implemented by 20 local organizations. 

“The Baytown initiative demonstrated what can be achieved through effective community partnerships led by two world-class organizations,” said Darren Woods, ExxonMobil chairman and CEO. “It is driving meaningful health and wellness benefits and we’re proud to team up again with MD Anderson to bring the same program to Beaumont in support of our neighbors and employees in that community.”

Be Well Communities™, MD Anderson’s place-based strategy for comprehensive cancer prevention and control, unites individuals, schools, workplaces, government agencies, health care providers and policymakers to plan and carry out sustainable, community-led solutions that make positive, long-lasting changes in people’s lives. 

“Cancer prevention is a cornerstone of our mission to end cancer,” said Peter WT Pisters, M.D., president of MD Anderson. “We are grateful for ExxonMobil’s continued support to implement life-changing programs in communities like Beaumont and Baytown, where we can directly impact cancer risk reduction and provide tangible differences for countless families.”

Research indicates that up to half of cancer cases can be prevented through consistent healthy lifestyle choices, including exercising, avoiding tobacco, limiting alcohol, eating a balanced diet, maintaining an appropriate weight, protecting your skin from the sun, completing cancer prevention vaccines, getting cancer screening exams and discussing your family history with your doctor.  

New initiative informed by proven model of impact 

MD Anderson’s Be Well Communities are built on 100 years of best practices, literature and experience in healthy community initiatives. The model centers on working with community-based organizations to build their capacity to deliver and evaluate evidence-based interventions.

Together with ExxonMobil, MD Anderson aims to create strong community linkages, to advance professional and policy changes, to establish an active health coalition, and to create a sustainability plan to transition the initiative to the community.

“It is a privilege to have the opportunity to work with leaders across Beaumont to implement collaborative change in the way people work, eat and play,” said Ruth Rechis, Ph.D., executive director ad interim of the cancer prevention and control platform at MD Anderson. “We are excited to get to know people in the community and cultivate strong and meaningful relationships.”

Program areas of focus for Be Well Beaumont may include: 

• Healthy eating: increasing the amount of healthy food distributed and providing nutrition education

• Active living: increasing the percentage of students and adults engaged in physical activity and improving parks and outdoor spaces for safe physical activity 

• Sun safety: providing sun-safety education and installing sunshades across the city

• Tobacco-free living: providing education on the harms of tobacco use and vaping 

• Preventive care: increasing access to cancer screenings and HPV vaccinations

Through the support of ExxonMobil’s $10 million commitment, Be Well Beaumont will be implemented over the next 10 years; leadership will transition to the community in 2034. More information is available here.