Leading the Way
Sandy and John Black
John and Sandy Black of Madison have committed $25 million, the single largest gift in University of Mississippi Medical Center history, to help build a new facility advancing world-class patient care and research. Their transformational gift is rooted in a longstanding family tradition of supporting projects that benefit all Mississippians.
We're so proud to be part of this. I believe it will bloom and blossom, especially knowing that it’s not just a cancer clinic, but also a center for research and development. With UMMC being the only academic medical center in our state, we’re very proud to support that.
- Sandy Black
Achieving NCI-designated status for this cancer center will greatly enhance the services needed and shape the future of Mississippi. People with certain cancer diagnoses have had to travel great distances to NCI-designated facilities to receive diagnostic treatment and care. It’s time that Mississippi had its own facility.
- John Black
Olivia and Archie Manning
Mississippi Natives and Longtime UMMC Supporters
People in the Delta are strong and resilient, but cancer is taking a terrible toll there and throughout Mississippi. That hits home for me and Olivia. We have always believed in UMMC, and we are proud now to support their efforts to improve cancer outcomes in the state.
Payton Lockey
Founder and Managing Member, Vacuum Truck Rentals
When Amanda was diagnosed, we quickly learned how few options existed for rare cancers in Mississippi. Families shouldn’t have to leave the state to find hope. That’s why this campaign matters. A comprehensive cancer center and the path to NCI designation will improve outcomes statewide and give Mississippians the care they deserve right here at home.
Hannah Gay, MD
Professor Emeritus, UMMC
Building a new Cancer Center and Research Institute means investing in research that directly impacts patients. My husband, Paul, is living proof of what scientific progress can do, and I’m confident that research here will give hope to countless others.
Lloyd Gray
Executive Director, The Phil Hardin Foundation
Improving cancer outcomes in Mississippi requires all of us working together. As education funders, the Phil Hardin Foundation knows that educating the next generation of cancer researchers and other health professionals is critical to this effort. When community partners from different backgrounds and perspectives unite, we show what's possible. This is a once-in-a-generation project, and it will take once-in-a-generation collaboration to bring it to life.
Gertrude C. Ford Foundation
No single organization can tackle Mississippi’s cancer burden alone. It will take strong, trusted community partnerships to build a cancer center that will elevate care and education for generations. When organizations across Mississippi join forces, we can create the kind of transformative change our state needs.
Bower Foundation
Mississippi continues to face the highest cancer burdens in the nation, and improving outcomes requires more than excellent clinical care,” said Anne Travis, president and CEO of the Bower Foundation. “It demands strong systems, better access to care and a commitment to long-term solutions. This investment reflects our belief that advancing population health and strengthening cancer care infrastructure must go hand in hand. The Cancer Center and Research Institute at UMMC is uniquely positioned to drive statewide impact, and we are proud to support a project that aligns so closely with our mission to improve the health and well-being of Mississippians for generations to come.