Richard and Virginia Hunsaker donate $10 million to Hoag

Longtime philanthropists Richard and Virginia Hunsaker recently notified Hoag Hospital Foundation that they have included a transformational $10 million gift in their estate to support the work of the Pickup Family Neurosciences Institute, as well as advancements in ophthalmology.

In honor of their extraordinary generosity, the North Tower of Hoag Hospital Newport Beach has been named the Richard C. & Virginia A. Hunsaker Pavilion. 

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Virginia and Richard Hunsaker

“Hoag is extremely grateful to the Hunsakers for their exemplary support and commitment to the health and wellness of the community,” said Robert T. Braithwaite, president and CEO of Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian. “The Hunsakers are leaders and visionaries of incomparable compassion. We thank them for this gift and for all they do in support of Hoag’s mission.”

Hospital supporters since 1984, Richard and Virginia have watched Hoag grow from a small hospital into a renowned medical center with institutes of excellence. When Richard was hospitalized at Hoag in 2004, the exceptional care he received left a profound impression on him.

“My wife and I hope that our gifts will inspire others to give, too,” Richard said. “It’s the cumulative giving effect of many that makes the greatest impact.”

The Hunsaker gift will help Hoag build upon the innovation and state-of-the-art neurosciences care that patients have come to expect. The work of the Pickup Family Neurosciences Institute earned Hoag recognition by Becker’s Hospital Review as a Top 100 Hospital with Great Neurosurgery and Spine Programs.

“The Hunsakers have a focus on philanthropy that goes beyond financial support. They truly embody their commitment to their community,” said Flynn A. Andrizzi, Ph.D., Hoag Hospital Foundation president and vice president of Hoag. “Their legacy of generosity will impact care at Hoag for generations.”

“This desire to help those who help so many makes Hoag a natural choice for the couple’s philanthropy,” Virginia said. “This community is extremely lucky to have Hoag so close by.”