$100 million gift from Bill and Donna Marriott advances Mayo Clinic’s bold vision for the future of cures

In an era when medical innovation can sometimes feel like a distant promise, the Mayo Clinic continues to stand as a place where miracles are made through science, compassion, and human dedication.

That legacy now grows stronger with a remarkable $100 million gift from Bill and Donna Marriott and their family—an act of gratitude that will help shape the future of medicine through Mayo’s Bold. Forward. Unbound. initiative in Rochester, Minnesota.

For the Marriotts, this gift is deeply personal. Their relationship with Mayo began more than four decades ago, in a moment no parent ever forgets. In 1962, their five-year-old daughter was diagnosed with a serious congenital heart condition. Options were limited.

Desperate for hope, they turned to the Mayo Clinic, where a team of pioneering surgeons performed open-heart surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass—a cutting-edge technique still in its early days.

The operation was a success.

Their daughter recovered, and the experience left an indelible mark on the Marriott family.

“That experience changed our lives forever,” Bill Marriott has often reflected. “Our family’s relationship with Mayo Clinic has always been personal.

We’ve seen firsthand how Mayo changes lives, and it’s our privilege to help make that care available to more patients, now and in the future.”

Those words capture the heart of this extraordinary gift, which for the Marriotts is not a matter of prestige, but of profound gratitude.

Bill Marriott built his family’s business into one of the world’s most respected hospitality brands. And yet, in many ways, his philosophy has always been about far more than hotels—it’s about serving people and improving lives.

This gift embodies the same principle extended to medicine, honoring the care that once saved his daughter and helping ensure that future families find hope at Mayo Clinic, just as his family did decades ago.

The $100 million donation will help advance the Bold. Forward. Unbound. initiative, a multiyear, $5 billion vision to reimagine the future of healthcare delivery.

The project aims to blend physical and digital care environments seamlessly, connecting technology, architecture, and humanity in ways never before experienced in medicine.

Two new state-of-the-art clinical buildings will anchor this campus’s evolution—spaces designed for flexibility, innovation, and seamless integration of in-person and virtual care.

These advances will allow Mayo to anticipate patient needs and streamline treatment while preserving the compassion and human understanding that define its approach.

In recognition of the family’s generosity, a defining space in the reimagined Rochester campus will be named the Marriott Family Atrium.

Opening in 2030, this luminous, two-story gathering place will greet tens of thousands of patients, visitors, and staff each day.

Filled with natural light and warmth, it will embody the qualities the Marriotts are known for—comfort, hospitality, and care for others. More than a passageway, it will serve as a sanctuary, a place where families can rest, reflect, and draw strength in moments of healing.

Mayo Clinic President and CEO Dr. Gianrico Farrugia has spoken about the significance of the family’s continued involvement: “The Marriotts are extraordinary partners and advocates for Mayo Clinic. Their dedication to transforming healthcare through generosity and vision reflects values that align deeply with our own.”

That shared vision has deep roots. Bill Marriott previously served as chairman of Mayo’s Board of Trustees and continues as an emeritus trustee, while his daughter, Debbie Marriott Harrison, serves on Mayo’s Greater Washington, D.C., Leadership Council. Their involvement reflects a family tradition of service that extends beyond business into every area of their lives.

By 2030, when the Marriott Family Atrium opens its doors, it will stand not only as an architectural centerpiece but also as a lasting symbol of human compassion and progress.

For Bill and Donna Marriott, this gift represents both a continuation of their family’s legacy and a gesture of enduring thanks to the institution that once gave them so much.

This is a reminder that gratitude can inspire transformation—and that the spirit of giving, when rooted in personal experience, can change the world.