Seventy-five years ago, a pivotal donation from the George Hoag Family Foundation facilitated the construction of Hoag Hospital. Since then, “The Hoag Family” has grown roots far deeper than George and his heirs. Generations of families in our community have received life-saving care, tended to their wellness, given birth, and so much more at Hoag. Tens of thousands of employees—health care providers, administrators, cafeteria workers, environmental service professionals, and countless others—have built careers and contributed to medical innovations at Hoag.
Since its opening, Hoag Hospital has had remarkable growth from a small community hospital to a regional provider of world-class care while retaining its personalized warmth and deeply rooted culture of patient-centered care. Melinda Hoag Smith, her husband Chuck, and the George Hoag Family Foundation have continued and expanded the legacy of philanthropy that Melinda’s father, George Hoag II, and grandmother, Grace Hoag, began.
“My dad would come up to the hospital almost every day, walk the halls, and talk to the nurses and the patients,” said Melinda. Indeed, George II was known for his amiable nature, Hawaiian shirts, and impeccable memory for names. “He always said, ‘We’re a family here.' We have expanded on that,” Melinda continued. “One of the primary directives and responsibilities of the George Hoag Family Foundation is to ensure and preserve this culture at Hoag because it is truly what makes it unique and sets it apart from other health care systems.”
Melinda and Chuck remain actively engaged at Hoag with regular participation through various hospital committees, employee events, and philanthropic support, as well as the establishment of the Melinda Hoag Smith Center for Healthy Living. Through its engagement, the George Hoag Family Foundation’s commitment to their namesake hospital will endure into the fourth and fifth generations. Melinda and Chuck’s children and nephew sit on the George Hoag Family Foundation Board, which allocates gifts to Hoag and other non-profit organizations serving the vulnerable in Los Angeles and Orange counties. Their grandchildren, all school-aged, attend “Hoag Family Days” and participate in events like holiday gift wrapping for families in need.
“For the next generations, we’ve tried to set the expectation and model the passion and heart of our founder’s mission to improve social conditions, promote human welfare, and alleviate pain and suffering,” Melinda said. “Our family’s commitment to Hoag Hospital has been the cornerstone of this mission.”
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