At Valley Children’s, care for young cancer patients doesn’t end when treatment does. For more than 1,800 childhood cancer survivors, long-term support continues through the Fresno Truck Center Childhood Cancer Survivorship Program, the region’s only program of its kind. In 2025, that mission received a significant boost thanks to a philanthropic partnership more than three decades in the making.

The Taco Bell Foundation awarded Valley Children’s a $70,000 Community Grant to help expand educational, wellness and follow‑up resources that guide young survivors into adulthood. The grant strengthens the hospital’s efforts to ensure every child who completes treatment has the knowledge, tools and confidence to manage their health and pursue their goals.

“This grant allows us to reach more young survivors with the tools and guidance they need to build a healthy, successful future,” said Dr. John Gates, Valley Children’s pediatric hematologist/oncologist and director of the Fresno Truck Center Childhood Cancer Survivorship Program. “We’re grateful to the Taco Bell Foundation and our local franchise partners for believing in our mission and investing in the potential of our youth.”

The award was part of the Taco Bell Foundation’s record-breaking $28 million investment in nearly 500 nonprofit organizations nationwide. Valley Children’s was nominated by local franchisees, who have supported the hospital for more than 32 years, funding programs that promote education, opportunity and well-being for young people throughout Central California.

“We believe that empowering young people is one of the most meaningful ways we can invest in the future,” said Lisa Lane Cardin, executive director of the Taco Bell Foundation. “This record investment is a testament to the power of community-driven change and the limitless potential that exists when we remove barriers and open doors.”

Founded in 2009, the Survivorship Program approaches long-term cancer care holistically. Survivors receive personalized health education, treatment summaries, screenings, mental health and wellness support, and access to peer-led learning opportunities. The program also provides pathways to higher education, offering scholarships that help ensure financial barriers do not stand in the way of a survivor’s ambitions. Last year, 72 pediatric cancer survivors received scholarships through the program.

“We are incredibly grateful to the Taco Bell Foundation for recognizing the importance of survivorship care,” said Valley Children’s Healthcare Foundation President Robert Saroyan. “This support helps ensure that young survivors have the tools they need to lead empowered lives. We’re proud to partner with Taco Bell in this meaningful work.”

Together, Valley Children’s and the Taco Bell Foundation are extending a message to survivors across the Valley: life after cancer is filled with possibility and they don’t have to navigate it alone.

Valley Children’s will honor a lifetime of generosity and deep-rooted community pride through the naming of the Scott MacMichael Professional Center, made possible by a $3 million estate gift from the late Scott Wishon MacMichael. The donation, one of the most significant legacy gifts in Valley Children’s history, will strengthen the hospital’s mission to deliver exceptional pediatric care throughout the Central Valley.

“This is an extraordinary gift from Scott Wishon MacMichael,” said Todd Suntrapak, President and CEO of Valley Children’s Healthcare. “Scott’s legacy will live on through the thousands of children who will benefit from the care and compassion made possible by his generosity.”

Located on Valley Children’s Madera campus, the Scott MacMichael Professional Center houses administrative teams essential to the hospital’s operations and serves as the home of Charlie’s Clinic, a primary care practice dedicated to Valley Children’s workforce members and their families. Naming the building in MacMichael’s honor reflects his belief that the work done behind the scenes often determines the success of any mission focused on serving others.

MacMichael died in March at age 67, leaving behind a legacy shaped by curiosity, humor and a profound love for Fresno. Friends and family remember him for his wit, his encyclopedic sports knowledge and his ability to weave stories that captured the essence of the community he cherished. His career in journalism and advertising let him share those stories widely, while his personal life reflected a quieter commitment to giving back.

His family’s longstanding dedication to philanthropy helped shape his values. MacMichael was the son of Eleanor Watson MacMichael and the great-grandson of A.G. Wishon, a pioneer whose work brought hydroelectric power to the San Joaquin Valley.

Members of the MacMichael family also played active roles in the La Feliz Guild, part of the Guilds of Valley Children’s Healthcare, which have supported the hospital since 1949.

Jenny Naef, MacMichael’s sister, said her brother preferred to help others without seeking acknowledgment. “Scott had a quiet but genuine way of caring about people and never wanted recognition for doing good,” she said. “He simply believed in helping where it mattered most. Valley Children’s was special to him because it represents hope, compassion and the kind of selfless service he admired. This gift is his way of giving back to the place and the people that shaped his life, a reflection of the heart he carried for his community.”

MacMichael’s legacy now becomes part of Valley Children’s future: supporting the teams, programs and families he cared about and ensuring that generations of children benefit from his enduring commitment to the region he loved.

Valley Children’s celebrated a historic milestone with the unveiling of the Giannini Family Pavilion in November, recognizing the largest, single estate gift in the organization’s history. The estate of LeRoy A. Giannini donated more than$9 million to Valley Children’s, honoring his parents, Ruth E. and LeRoy G. Giannini, and continuing a legacy of quiet generosity that has shaped the Central Valley for more than a century.

“This is a truly remarkable day for Valley Children’s as we celebrate the extraordinary gift of nearly $9 million from the Giannini family,” said Todd Suntrapak, President and CEO of Valley Children’s Healthcare. “This gift is a wonderful tribute to the family’s deep Valley roots, to their lifetime of caring for children and families and to those children who we are privileged to care for at Valley Children’s today and for generations to come.”

To recognize this significant gift, the south lawn of Valley Children’s Hospital in Madera now bears the name Giannini Family Pavilion, providing a welcoming space for patients, families and visitors.

The Giannini family story is deeply woven into the history of Central Valley farming. For 124 years, the Giannini companies were agricultural leaders, pioneering innovative harvesting techniques and transforming the nectarine industry. LeRoy G. Giannini began farming on just 20 acres before taking over the family operation at age 16 after the tragic death of his father. Through decades of innovation and determination, he expanded the business to more than 2,000 acres of nectarines and plums, a processing plant in Dinuba and cattle along the Central Coast. By the late 1970s, he was the largest nectarine producer in the world.

But behind this remarkable success was a man known for remarkable generosity. Giannini quietly supported educational and faith‑based organizations throughout his lifetime, rarely seeking recognition.

Jim Burnett, a longtime friend, employee and trustee of his estate, often witnessed his compassion firsthand. Burnett shared that Giannini paid for Little League teams without sponsors, covered unexpected emergencies for employees, sent their children to college and even paid funeral expenses for families in need. In Burnett’s words, he “ran his business as a family.”

“We are grateful for the generosity and vision of the Giannini family and the transformational effect that their gift will have at Valley Children’s, Valley Children’s Healthcare Foundation President Robert Saroyan said. 

“This gift is the capstone of the Giannini family’s incredible tradition of philanthropy in the Valley. Their spirit of generosity and compassion for those in need in our community will live on with the naming of the future center.” 
- Valley Children's Foundation President Rob Saroyan

The unveiling ceremony, held Nov. 18, 2025, honored not only a towering figure in agriculture but also a man whose legacy of kindness will support Valley Children’s patients for generations.

On the east side of Valley Children’s Hospital, a new pathway now winds gently through preserved habitat. A scenic, approximately 1.5‑mile stretch of natural landscape meant to offer peace, reflection and restoration, the Donald E. Gumz Community Trail and its purpose reach far beyond providing a pleasant walk. It symbolizes a life dedicated to uplifting the Central Valley and celebrates a gift that continues to shape children’s healthcare in the region.

The trail entrance sits behind the Medical Office Building, inviting families, staff and visitors to step away from the intensity of hospital life. For many, it has quickly become a place to breathe, reset and reconnect with the outdoors. That connection, rooted in nature’s ability to soothe, is especially significant given the man whose name the trail now bears.

Born and raised in Fresno, Donald E. Gumz devoted his life to supporting the causes that mattered most to him: children’s health, education and shelter among them. His commitment to community was steadfast, and in 2020, his generosity culminated in a remarkable $4 million estate gift to Valley Children’s. That contribution played a pivotal role in expanding outpatient services, ensuring more families throughout the Valley could access the care their children needed.

“Mr. Gumz’s extraordinary gift reminds us that true generosity has the power to touch lives long after we are gone. His love of the outdoors makes this a fitting tribute,” said Rob Saroyan, president of Valley Children’s Healthcare Foundation.

Today, the Donald E. Gumz Community Trail stands as both a memorial and a vital wellness asset. For hospital employees, it offers a moment of respite; for families navigating uncertain medical journeys, it provides a grounding sense of calm. The trail also reinforces Valley Children’s belief that healing extends beyond clinical spaces.

“Healing happens both inside and outside our hospital walls. Even a short walk on the trail can lower stress, improve mood and help people feel more grounded. It’s a simple but powerful way to support wellness across our campus,” said Steffani Sanchez, employee wellness coordinator at Valley Children’s.

With each step taken along the trail, Gumz’s legacy continues, quietly, naturally and in service to the community he loved.

Valley Children’s will expand several core programs thanks to a transformative $3 million donation from the James G. Boswell Foundation. The gift, the largest ever made by the J.G. Boswell Co., commemorates the organization’s 100th anniversary of farming in the San Joaquin Valley and marks a major investment in the well-being of children throughout the region.

Valley Children’s Healthcare President and CEO Todd Suntrapak emphasized the significance of the commitment. “We are deeply grateful for the James G. Boswell Foundation’s extraordinary generosity and the family’s unwavering trust in our team. Their support is a testament to their belief in our mission and the vital work we do for the children and families of this region,” he said.

The Boswell Foundation’s contribution will support programs that rely heavily on community philanthropy. These include initiatives that begin at the bedside and extend far beyond a child’s hospitalization. Valley Children’s teams will use the funding to strengthen academic, recreational, spiritual and social programs that help children heal and thrive.

One major component of the gift will fund college scholarships for patients in the Fresno Truck Center Cancer Survivorship Program. This support helps young survivors pursue higher education as they transition into adulthood. Other funds will expand the Adaptive Sports Program, providing new equipment to let children with physical disabilities participate fully in athletics and recreation.

Cameron Boswell, vice president of administration for the J.G. Boswell Company, said the family wanted to honor its century of agricultural stewardship by giving back in a meaningful way.

“Our mission is to give back to the communities in which we operate, and it means so much to us to partner with an organization like Valley Children’s that really does make such a profound difference in families’ lives,” said Boswell. “They’re at the forefront of saving lives, and I don’t think there is a more important cause than that.”

Spiritual care programs will also grow as a result of the donation. The chaplaincy program, future renovation of the Jensen Family Chapel and Valley Children’s annual Celebration of Life will benefit from the foundation’s support. These services provide comfort and community during some of the most emotionally difficult moments families face.

Additional funding will enhance social and developmental programs that support patients in Valley Children’s neonatal intensive care unit, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) program and nephrology services.

The J.G. Boswell Co., based in the southern San Joaquin Valley, has been closely held and family-operated since its formation in 1925. The company continues to produce and market cotton, tomatoes, oilseeds, orchards and cattle, while maintaining a longstanding commitment to sustainability and responsible land management.

By directing its largest philanthropic gift in the company’s history to Valley Children’s, the Boswell Foundation is helping shape a healthier future for thousands of children — a legacy that will endure far beyond its centennial milestone.