$35 million gift from Sarah Irving and family to transform cancer care
Massachusetts General Hospital, a founding member of the Mass General Brigham healthcare system, has received a landmark $35 million gift from Irving Oil to transform the future of cancer care and elevate the patient experience across its network.
Announced February 4 in recognition of World Cancer Day, the gift will fund the creation of two signature spaces within the Phillip and Susan Ragon Building—currently one of the largest healthcare construction projects in Boston’s history.
The contribution establishes the Irving Oil Limited Center for Urgent Cancer Care in Honor of Arthur L. Irving and the Irving Oil Limited Healing Garden in Honor of Arthur L. Irving.
Together, these spaces will serve as focal points for patient-centered innovation within the Ragon Building, uniting the Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute and the Mass General Brigham Heart and Vascular Institute under one roof. When complete, the project will consolidate advanced clinical care, research, and education in a setting designed to redefine the hospital experience for patients and families.
Arthur L. Irving, the late president and chairman of Irving Oil, maintained a long-standing partnership with Mass General spanning more than three decades. A philanthropist known for his quiet generosity and strong sense of purpose, Irving consistently championed the hospital’s mission to blend groundbreaking clinical excellence with compassionate care.
His family’s philanthropic leadership has previously supported the establishment of three endowed chairs in cardiology and cancer research, multiple innovation funds that support advances in cancer immunology, and the annual Arthur and Sandra Irving Cancer Immunology Retreat and Symposium—unique gatherings dedicated to advancing early-career scientists in the field.
“This extraordinary gift reflects Arthur Irving’s unwavering belief in the power of breakthrough care rooted in humanity,” said Dr. David P. Ryan, President of the Mass General Brigham Cancer Institute.
“The Irving Oil Limited Center for Urgent Cancer Care and Healing Garden that bears his name will help ensure patients and families experience cancer care that is both cutting-edge and deeply compassionate, particularly during their moments of greatest need.”
The Phillip and Susan Ragon Building, now rising on Mass General’s historic campus, will open in two phases: the Herb Chambers Tower in 2027 and the New Balance Foundation Tower in 2030.
At nearly two million square feet, it will become the largest building in the hospital’s history and a centerpiece of Mass General Brigham’s next generation of clinical innovation.
The Irving Oil Limited Center for Urgent Cancer Care, situated within the Herb Chambers Tower, will offer a specialized alternative to the traditional emergency department for patients experiencing acute cancer-related complications—creating a private, comfortable environment sensitive to the complex needs of those undergoing treatment.
The Healing Garden, located in the New Balance Foundation Tower, will serve as a restorative outdoor retreat where patients, visitors, and caregivers can reconnect with nature and one another.
Jeff Matthews, President and CEO of Irving Oil, emphasized that the donation reflects the company’s enduring values and regional roots. “At Irving Oil, we have always believed in supporting the places and people that shape our communities.
New England has been our home for more than 50 years, and honoring Mr. Irving’s legacy through a gift that strengthens the lives of patients and families aligns with the values that have guided our company for more than a century,” Matthews said.
“Our founder believed deeply that people matter, and this investment in well-being is among the most meaningful ways we can make a difference.”
Founded in 1924, Irving Oil operates across Eastern Canada, New England, and Ireland, employing thousands of people and operating Canada’s largest refinery in Saint John, New Brunswick, and Ireland’s only refinery in Whitegate.
The company has been recognized as one of Canada’s Top 100 Employers for ten consecutive years, underscoring its century-long commitment to its workforce, communities, and sustainable business practices.
Mass General Brigham, one of the nation’s leading nonprofit academic health systems, continues to leverage philanthropy as a catalyst for medical discovery and reimagined patient care.
With the Ragon Building’s completion, the health system will unite top clinicians, researchers, and educators inside a facility purpose-built to meet the rapidly evolving demands of 21st-century medicine.
By linking a storied New England company with one of the world’s leading academic hospitals, the Irving Oil gift represents more than a financial commitment—it is a tribute to a shared legacy of compassion, innovation, and community.
For generations to come, the spaces it endows will stand as living reminders of Arthur L. Irving’s belief that great institutions are defined not only by their achievements, but by the care and dignity they extend to every individual they serve.