In this Article
Baylor Scott & White Dallas Foundation is celebrating a $1 billion philanthropy milestone since its founding in 1978. For nearly five decades, donors have transformed healthcare across North Texas—advancing medical breakthroughs, supporting patient care and strengthening communities through their generosity.
In this Article
For more than a century, philanthropy has advanced Baylor Scott & White Health’s mission to serve through our Christian ministry of healing. Generous donors have supported medical breakthroughs, patient-centered care and vital community programs since BSW’s earliest days.
In 1903, cattle baron and philanthropist C.C. Slaughter gave the first financial gift to what would become Baylor University Medical Center (BUMC)—answering Rev. George W. Truett’s call to build a “great humanitarian hospital.”
In 1978, this spirit of giving was formalized with the founding of what is now BSW Dallas Foundation—creating a dedicated home for philanthropy that transforms generosity into lasting impact.
The Foundation has now surpassed a remarkable milestone: $1 billion in philanthropic funds distributed to improve the health and well-being of communities across North Texas. Donors have empowered us to care for patients in their most vulnerable moments, to train the next generation of healthcare leaders and to reimagine what’s possible through innovation.
“Donors place their confidence in us to turn philanthropy into progress,” said Pete McCanna, CEO of Baylor Scott & White. “Together, we are transforming the healthcare experience for the individuals, families and communities we serve.”
In this issue, we highlight a few pivotal milestones that show the power of generosity to drive progress and inspire hope.
The journey doesn’t stop here. We’re setting our sights on new challenges and opportunities to make a difference. With your continued support, we’ll pursue bold new goals that promote health and well-being for all.
The billion-dollar path
The milestones in this timeline are just a glimpse of the impact made possible by thousands of donors, and we look forward to sharing more stories in the year ahead.
1978
Baylor University Medical Center Foundation is established with a $5 million endowment to support the Dallas-based medical center.
Boone Powell, Sr.—the longtime CEO who helped expand the medical center’s size and reputation—becomes the Foundation’s founding president. His leadership laid the groundwork for what would eventually become the Baylor Scott & White Dallas Foundation.
1982
The Baylor Research Foundation is established to advance medical research, clinical care and public health.
For more than four decades, Baylor Scott & White Research Institute has advanced discovery through donor generosity—from early champions like Louis A. and Julia Beecherl Jr. to Ashley and Greg Arnold, whose 2023 gift is fueling bold innovations in population health and inspiring a future of healthier communities.
1982
A major gift from A. Webb Roberts funds a 17-story patient tower, later named the A. Webb Roberts Hospital. It builds on his earlier 1972 gift, which established the continuing medical education center that still bears his name.
1996
The James M. and Dorothy D. Collins Women and Children’s Center opens at Baylor University Medical Center. Major gifts from the James M. Collins Foundation and Hillcrest Foundation help make this family-centered facility a reality.
1999
Celebrating Women launches with a press conference. Now in its 26th year, this annual luncheon has raised more than $42 million to advance the fight against breast cancer. The late Lindalyn Adams was instrumental in the impact and legacy of this signature Foundation event.
2000
A $5 million gift from the W.W. Caruth, Jr. Foundation at Communities Foundation of Texas established the Program in Organ Transplantation Immunology. This endowed chair leads immunology research to advance treatments and hope for patients.
2002
Jack and Jane Hamilton make a transformative gift to establish the first North Texas hospital dedicated solely to heart and vascular care.
Now part of The BSW Heart Hospitals, donor support continues to fuel progress in cardiovascular research and education.
2007
Community Care Clinics launch in 2007, dedicated to providing care for underserved North Texans.
In 2024, The Rees-Jones Foundation provides a lead gift to build the new BSW Community Care Clinic – St. Philip’s, advancing access to care in South Dallas.
2008
Donor support helps Baylor University Medical Center complete a major expansion of the Riggs Emergency Department.
Named in honor of Dr. Leonard R. Riggs Jr., pictured with his wife, Peggy, the Riggs Emergency Department serves as a Level I trauma center where donor support shapes care—training future emergency medicine physicians and sustaining programs like SANE that serve patients in crisis.
2010
In partnership with the City of Dallas, Baylor opens the BSW Health and Wellness Center at Juanita J. Craft Recreation Center. Thanks to donor support, the Center offers comprehensive care and wellness services— standing as a model of innovation, collaboration and community health for South Dallas and beyond.
2010
A $20 million gift from Annette C. and the late Harold C. Simmons renames Baylor University Medical Center’s transplant institute in their honor.
The Simmons family’s philanthropy helps expand access and innovation across one of the nation’s leading transplant centers.
2010
The Baylor Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center opens.
Funded in part by a $20 million gift from Sammons Enterprises, the center represents a new model for comprehensive outpatient cancer care in North Texas. With support from donors such as the Crowley-Carter Foundation, philanthropy continues to transform the cancer journey through bedside-focused research, training future specialists, and supporting patient navigators and genetic counselors.
2010
Deerbrook Charitable Trust contributes more than $12 million to support nursing education and workforce development at BSW.
T. Boone Pickens makes a $10 million gift to establish an endowment for graduate medical education.
2013
The Memory Center launches with a $1 million lead gift from AT&T.
Grateful patient families like Sandra and Gary Fernandes, and many others in the community, continue to support and expand care for those facing memory disorders.
2019
Crystal Charity Ball helps launch the Tiniest Texans initiative in the Level IV NICU at BUMC.
Donor generosity continues to help premature and critically ill babies receive life-saving, family-centered care.
2021
The American Cancer Society Gene and Jerry Jones Family Hope Lodge opens on the BUMC campus.
100% funded through philanthropy, hope is given a new home through donors including the Gene and Jerry Jones Family Foundation, the Don and Trudy Steen Charitable Foundation, and Carmen and Jeff York.
2025
Baylor Scott & White launches the Texas Cancer Interception Institute.
With a $7 million lead gift from the Jeff and Carmen York Family, the initiative is dedicated to detecting and treating cancer before it is even visible on standard imaging.
Looking ahead
Generous donors continue to advance our mission in new ways never dreamed of in 1978.
Women born without a uterus have become mothers because donor support helped launch the uterus transplant program.
Doctors are bringing medicine to the unsheltered population through our philanthropically supported Street Medicine program.
Cancer is being intercepted earlier than ever through the donor-launched Texas Cancer Interception Institute.
These are just a few of the ways your support is empowering North Texas communities to live well. As we celebrate this $1 billion milestone, we know our work is far from over. There are new challenges to face, new communities to serve and new breakthroughs waiting to be discovered.
Your continued support will help write the next chapter. What will the next billion make possible?
