$25 million gift from John and Sandy Black to advance cancer care and research
When John and Sandy Black talk about Mississippi, it’s with the quiet conviction of people who have put down deep roots and nurtured them.
From their home in Madison, the couple has long been known for their generosity. Still, this year they made history: a $25 million gift to the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC), the single largest in its history, to advance cancer care and research in their home state.
It’s a donation that speaks not only to their resources but to their values—the belief that philanthropy should meet people where the need is greatest.
And in Mississippi, the need is overwhelming.
Mississippi holds a painful distinction: the highest cancer mortality rate in the nation.
For families across the state, access to cutting-edge treatment and research often means long drives out of state, a cruel burden piled onto an already difficult diagnosis.
The Blacks knew this reality intimately—not from personal illness, but from the countless stories that had reached them over the years, neighbors and friends navigating a system not built to serve them well.
“We’re so proud to be part of this,” Sandy said, her words carrying both humility and hope. “I believe it will bloom and blossom, especially knowing that it’s not just a cancer clinic, but also a center for research and development. With UMMC being the only academic medical center in our state, we’re very proud to support that.”
For the Blacks, this wasn’t just a donation. It was a statement: Mississippi deserves world-class care at home.
Their $25 million pledge will anchor UMMC’s plans for a new five-story, 250,000+ square-foot Cancer Center and Research Institute. The design goes beyond bricks and mortar: a space that unites treatment, prevention, and groundbreaking research under one roof.
The facility will offer advanced clinical trials, attract top medical talent, and serve as a beacon for patients who too often feel left behind. In the words of UMMC’s leaders, it will mark a turning point for cancer care in the state.
But ask the Blacks, and they don’t dwell on the accolades or the record-setting nature of the gift.
They talk instead about patients.
About families.
About making sure that when a Mississippian hears the word “cancer,” they don’t also hear the word “alone.”
John, known for his sharp business acumen, and Sandy, admired for her warmth and community spirit, have long shared a philosophy of giving that prioritizes impact over recognition.
Friends describe them as deeply private, even shy about publicity, yet determined when it comes to directing their resources where they can do the most good.
They see philanthropy not as charity, but as partnership—a way of fueling institutions and communities to realize their highest potential.
Their UMMC gift is consistent with that ethos: a strategic investment in infrastructure and innovation that will ripple across generations.
UMMC officials are candid that the Blacks’ gift is more than financial.
It’s catalytic.
Large-scale donations have a way of rallying momentum, inspiring others to step forward. And in a state where health disparities remain stubborn, that kind of momentum can mean the difference between incremental progress and transformative change.
“This is the type of leadership gift that inspires others,” said Dr. John Ruckdeschel, director of the CCRI.
“When community leaders step up with this level of commitment, it creates momentum that can transform an entire health system.”
Construction on the new Cancer Center is poised to usher in a new era of care in Mississippi, one where cutting-edge treatments and compassionate support are no longer out of reach.
For John and Sandy Black, the vision is simple, even if the undertaking is vast. “This is about investing in our people,” Sandy said. “We believe in UMMC, and we believe in the power of giving to make a difference.”
As Mississippi charts its future in cancer care, the Blacks’ gift stands as both a foundation and a challenge: a call to imagine a state where geography and circumstance no longer dictate survival.
And in that vision, John and Sandy Black are not just donors.
They are architects of hope.