"Providing philanthropic support to Midland Memorial Hospital since 1945"

Midland Memorial Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit corporation organized exclusively for the benefit of Midland Memorial Hospital. Governed by a volunteer board, the Foundation was established in 1945 for the purpose of raising funds for a community hospital. Since Midland Memorial Hospital opened in 1950, the Foundation has been active in securing additional gifts for the expansion of the physical plants, purchase of new equipment, and initiation of valuable new programs and services.

The hospital was established by prominent community leaders with one mission, "to make quality healthcare available in this region". It was built with funds donated by individuals, corporations and foundations as a nonprofit, community-based hospital, offering medical care to all Midlanders, regardless of their ability to pay.

The Foundation's Board of Governors recognize that philanthropy will not only continue to play a significant role in providing funds for Midland Memorial Hospital but that the benevolence of donors will become the critical link between community and regional needs and the quality of care provided.

Midland Memorial Foundation gratefully acknowledges a rich history of philanthropic support and is committed to broadening our fundraising efforts so Midland Memorial Hospital can continue to meet the health care needs of a growing and dynamic community and region.

We invite you to explore our site to find out more about our current projects, special events and how you can support the mission of Midland Memorial Hospital.

Mission Statement

Midland Memorial Foundation was established in 1945 by community volunteers committed to raising the funds for Midland's first hospital. Successful in that endeavor, the Foundation has continued to fulfill its primary mission "to help promote and maintain excellence in the delivery of health care in Midland". The mission includes: 
      1) Helping friends of the hospital reach their own goals through philanthropic giving to Midland Memorial Hospital. 
      2) Working with physicians and hospital administration to identify projects which lend themselves to philanthropic 
          fundraising.
      3) Aiding the volunteer Board of Governors to build a significant Endowment Fund which will ensure that quality health care 
          continues to be available to the people of Midland County. 

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Governing Board

Board of Governors

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Meet Our Philanthropy Team

Perhaps you would like to tour one of Midland Memorial Hospital's facilities or learn more about one of our many services or programs. Maybe you have a question about your giving record with the Foundation or would like to learn more about our giving opportunities. You may simply have a suggestion to share or a change of address or other information that needs updating in our records. Midland Memorial Foundation's Philanthropy Team invites your call at any time, because we welcome every opportunity to assist each of our current and future donors.

Tricia Jowell Cobb
Executive Director

Tricia Jowell Cobb
Executive Director
(432) 683-7516
tricia@midland-memorial.com

Tonya Sutton
Grant/Foundation Coordinator
(432) 221-1569
tonya.sutton@midland-memorial.com

Stephanie McClure 
Scholarship Assistant Coordinator
(432) 221-5250
stephanie.mcclure@midland-memorial.com

Maricela Dominguez
Scholarship Assistant
(432) 221-5250
maricela.dominguez@midland-memorial.com

The Midland Memorial Foundation offices are located on the second floor in the Craddick Medical Office Building. For more information or to contact the Foundation call (432) 683-7516or (432) 221-1569, or fax (432) 221-4699.

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Faces of Philanthropy

People of Extraordinary Generosity

Gladys and George Abell: MMH Benefactors for More Than 60 Years

Miriam Beard said, “The results of philanthropy are always beyond calculation.” Truly, the philanthropic contributions of Gladys and George T. Abell to the Midland community are incalculable.The Abells were among the most generous of givers, and now through the Abell-Hanger Foundation, their generosity continues.

Mr. Abell served as the Chairman of the first capital funds campaign for Midland Memorial Hospital and was a member
of the hospital's original Board of Trustees and Board of Governors. Mrs. Abell was a member of the Women's
Auxiliary of Midland Memorial Hospital and, after George's death, served on the Board of Governors.

With one of the first donations to the building fund in 1946, the Abells became major contributors to the creation of Midland Memorial Hospital. In ensuing years, they were always a driving force behind every fund drive, which included air-conditioning the hospital in the early days and the retirement of the debt in 1976. The Abells were present and active during the years that the Board of Governors saw to it not only that MMH had enough funds to take care of the sick, but also that the hospital had the means to expand as demands of the city and county continued to grow. 

Beginning in 1975, the Abell-Hanger Foundation provided $1,194,000 to fund the 12-bed Critical Care Unit. In 1983 and 1985, they contributed $350,000 toward an X-Ray Room and the Radiology Fund Drive, which brought the first MRI equipment to Midland. 

The nursing scholarship program is one area of Midland Memorial Hospital that was greatly impacted by the generosity of the Abells. It was determined in 1984 that a plan of action was needed to deal with the nursing shortage; once again, the Abell-Hanger Foundation was there to fund the creation of the Auxiliary Nursing Education Fund. Continuing with yearly contributions through 1998, the Abell-Hanger Foundation contributed a total of $1,012,100 to this effort, providing 357 nursing students with tuition, books, fees, uniforms, and even stipends, if needed. Many of these students would have been unable to pursue advanced nursing education had it not been for this scholarship program. 

The Abell-Hanger Foundation provided a major grant for new patient monitors for the Critical Care Unit in 1986, and, in 1987, approved a generous donation to fund the conversion of 12 post-critical care beds into an Intensive Care Unit with 12 formal monitoring stations. This bed conversion gave MMH a total of 12 critical care beds and 12 intensive care beds with state-of-the-art monitoring, which were needed due to the increasing number of acutely ill patients being admitted to the hospital. 

In 1989, the Abell-Hanger Medical Pavilion opened, made possible by a$1,000,000grant from the Abell-Hanger Foundation. This facility currently houses the Magnetic Resonance Imaging Center, the Occupational and Physical Therapy Center and other MMH offices. Then in 1992, the Abell-Hanger Foundation contributed the funds to renovate Memorial Rehabilitation Hospital to provide for the ever growing rehabilitation needs of Midland. 

The Abell-Hanger Foundation provided $3 million in 2002 after Midland Memorial Foundation met their challenge grant to build the Medical Office Building on the Main Campus of MMH. This $3 million grant matched the largest grant the Abell Hanger Foundation had ever given at that time, and provided a much needed facility near MMH to house physicians and other medical service companies. 

Midland Memorial Foundation was again overwhelmed when, in 2009, the trustees of the Abell-Hanger Foundation pledged a remarkable $7 million to the Campaign for Tomorrow for the construction of the new patient tower. The Abell-Hanger Foundation pledge to the MMF Building Fund is now the largest they have ever given to date, and the second largest gift ever given to Midland Memorial Hospital in its history. What an extraordinary example of the dedication and faithfulness which continues from the philanthropic legacy of Gladys and George Abell! 

Whenever the Abells and the trustees of the Abell-Hanger Foundation saw a need, they were there to help solve that need. Most recently, the Abell-Hanger Foundation provided a $20,000 scholarship to assist a Midland medical student who will work as a physician at Midland Memorial Hospital following graduation from Texas Tech Health Science Center Medical School. 

The Abells understood that continuing the delivery of health care service depends upon many factors, among which are understanding, commitment, knowledge, dedication, and financing. They understood that hospitals must have adequate facilities, updated equipment and trained personnel to provide the best care to the sick and injured. Providing this care is a costly and monumental task: an awesome responsibility to which the Abells were wholly committed. Individually and through the Abell-Hanger Foundation, Gladys and George Abell continue to be one of the hospital's largest benefactors with contributions totaling $14,524,929. 

The Abell-Hanger Foundation was created by the Abells to carry on the philanthropic endeavors that they pursued during their professional and civic careers. Speaking of business success, George Abell once said, "Sure, men like to be successful, not just for the money, but because of what one can do for his community, for his country, and for mankind. Business success provides the opportunity to do some of the things most of us dream about doing for our community and its various institutions, organizations, and agencies." 

Be it Midland Memorial Hospital, Manor Park, or the Petroleum Museum, hardly a community project or institution has gone untouched by the Abell’s generous giving and participation. George and Gladys Abell are missed, but the living, lasting monuments they left behind keep us all in remembrance of their extraordinary lives. These monuments will long benefit residents of this city and region and will be appreciated and enjoyed by generations to come. The Abells would be pleased to see the wise stewardship exercised by the trustees of the Abell-Hanger Foundation over the past 57 years, as they honor donor intent and continue to carry out the wishes and dreams of the Abells. 

The Board of Governors of Midland Memorial Foundation and the Board of Trustees of Midland Memorial Hospital are grateful for the generosity of Gladys and George Abell and the Abell-Hanger Foundation. Because of their dedication, MMH can continue to provide the quality care and compassion Midlanders have come to expect.

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In Memory of David Mims: A Gift of Love Helps Others

Recently, Mary and James Mims made a generous contribution in memory of their son, David Mims, who died September 11, 2011 after an all-too-short life of service to others. Midland Memorial Foundation was honored to receive this donation to the Oncology Fund at Midland Memorial Hospital.  

The memorial donation funded the purchase of two vital pieces of equipment, a Vein Viewer and a Stretchair. Often, cancer patients fight long term battles that require multiple infusions and treatments. Over time, tissue and veins can deteriorate and become difficult to locate. The new VeinViewer technology uses near infrared lightand other patented technologies to create a digital image of the patient's superficial vein pattern projected directly onto the surface of the skin. The VeinViewer Technology helps decrease the number of IV attempts and the amount of time needed to begin treatments, therefore increasing patient satisfaction.  

The Stretchair is a fully motorized power stretcher chair that provides safe and comfortable transport for patients undergoing intravenous treatments. The new Stretchair has also enhanced patient satisfaction.  

The Mimses hope the equipment purchased as a result of this donation will relieve the discomfort of patients who must experience intravenous therapy. Mary and James also desire to aid the caring physicians and nursing staff of Midland Memorial Hospital and especially the staff at Allison Cancer Center, who all took such considerate and professional care of David during his eleven year battle with cancer.  

David Mims was born and raised in Midland, Texas. He was a 1967 graduate of Midland High School, a 1971 graduate of Texas A&M, and served as a captain in the United States Air Force Reserve. David received a Master’s Degree from Auburn University, where he met Becky Scott. The two were married in Birmingham, Alabama in 1973. After a few years in Houston, they returned to Midland, and David joined his dad and Edwin L. Stephens as a partner in the independent insurance agency of Mims and Stephens. David and Becky raised two loving daughters, Allison and Melanie. 

David was known by friends and family as a man of integrity and honor. His leadership skills were invaluable to the civic organizations he served including Midland Downtown Rotary Club, Midland Chamber of Commerce, Midland Development Corporation, and various other boards and agencies. David’s unyielding faith in God was his source of strength throughout his courageous battle with cancer. David’s devotion to God inspired his service at First Baptist Church of Midland and the Emmaus Community.  

On behalf of the MMH Oncology staff and the patients for whom they care, Midland Memorial Foundation would like to thank Mary and James Mims for their thoughtful contribution. Helen Keller said, "What we have once enjoyed and deeply loved we can never lose, for all that we love deeply becomes a part of us." The deep love Mary and James have for their son, David, lives on and is making a difference in the lives of others through this memorial gift.

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Foundation News