A $25 million gift from longtime philanthropists Ben and Carmela Du will help Hoag Hospital with its Irvine expansion, scheduled to open in 2026.
The Du Family Hospital Pavilion will “serve as a focal point welcoming patients and visitors to Hoag’s $1 billion expansion project in Irvine” that will be known as the Sun Family Campus at Hoag Hospital, officials announced this week.
The pavilion will include a sunlit open area that connects the hospital to other facilities on the campus and outdoor spaces, including landscaped gardens and decks. Also included will be an indoor-outdoor hospital dining area and a covered valet area, officials said.
The Dus, who immigrated to the U.S. from the Philippines in 1967 and reside in Newport Beach, said supporting Hoag’s Irvine expansion was “a logical choice.”
“The campus is central to more communities,” said Ben Du. “We feel it’s important that Hoag is expanding its reach. We are honored to be involved and to support the Irvine area and other growing South County communities.”
Once complete, the expansion will include six buildings, 155 inpatient beds, eight operating rooms, two procedure rooms and 120,000 square feet of new facilities.
This gift is hardly the only one the Dus have given to Hoag.
In 2015, the couple gave $2.25 million to establish the Benjamin and Carmela Du Endowed Chair in Urologic Oncology, which supports breakthroughs in prostate cancer treatment.
And in 2018, they gave $5 million to Hoag’s Irvine campus, which helped create the Benjamin and Carmela Du Emergency Pavilion.
“Giving back is an important part of our family legacy,” Carmela Du said. “We are inspired by Hoag’s work to redefine the future of healthcare, right here in Orange County. We fully support the vision of Hoag’s expanded care.”
