The McNeil family have been steadfast supporters of CHRISTUS Spohn for many years, supporting CHRISTUS Spohn projects through the family foundation that was founded by Larry and Pat McNeil, who strongly believed, “the more we give, the more we receive.”
The Larry and Pat McNeil Foundation was established in 1979 to provide financial assistance for the benefit of charitable, scientific, artistic, literary, healthcare and educational organizations in the Texas Coastal Bend Area.
After Larry passed away in 2004 at the age of 82, Pat and their two children, Dr. Mike McNeil and Sue McNeil Carey, were determined to continue the legacy that Larry and Pat had begun. “80% of the charities to which we continue to donate are those that were originally selected by my parents, which includes CHRISTUS Spohn,” said Mike McNeil.
In May of 2015 when the opportunity presented itself to donate to the new critical tower at CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Corpus Christi – Shoreline, Mike and Sue did not hesitate to make the generous donation of $250,000 toward the Our PATH Forward Capital Campaign.
Just two weeks later, Sue McNeil Carey, her husband, Ralph, and their daughter, Michelle Charba, along with her husband, Randy, and their son Will, as well as friends, Laura McComb and her children, Andrew and Leighton, were all lost during the Memorial Day Wimberley flood.
“Maybe a month or two after the flood”, Mike recalls, “I thought about designating the McNeil Foundation’s pledge to the Trauma Operating Room and make it in honor of those we lost in the Wimberley flood.” The new trauma operating room will be named The Carey, Charba, McComb Memorial Trauma Operating Room.
At Mike’s suggestion, Karen Bonner, Vice President of Philanthropy for the Spohn Foundation, set up a matching fund to encourage donations to CHRISTUS Spohn to support the memorial fund.
Through their generous gifts, friends of the McNeils, Careys, Charbas and McCombs have continued that spirit of service and have donated to the Carey, Charba, McComb Memorial Trauma Operating Room fund. Over 49 donors have given gifts to the fund totaling more than $600,000 with numbers continuing to rise.
One passionate donor, Lynn Giddings, a close friend of Sue Carey, was among the first to take the match challenge to heart. Lynn states, “If you met Sue Carey one time, then you were a friend of hers which is why I decided to step forward with a gift and assist in asking others to support the fund as well.” Mike says, “We are honored and truly grateful for the generous philanthropic support of everyone who wanted to create a fitting tribute to those lost in the Wimberly flood.”
CHRISTUS Spohn is grateful to the Larry and Pat McNeil Foundation and Dr. Mike McNeil, along with his wife, Julie, for sharing their time, talent and treasure with us and for their long-standing financial support to ensure that our community receives the highest quality care. Truly a legacy of caring for our community has been established for generations to follow.
We recognize and applaud their extraordinary philanthropic support and generosity. They have made us better and are an inspiration to us all.
If you’d like to donate to the Carey, Charba, McComb Memorial Trauma Operating Room, click the button below!