Kinder Children’s Cancer Center, a new medical facility in the works between The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and Texas Children’s Hospital, received a $10 million commitment from the Robert R. and Kay M. Onstead Foundation, according to a Sept. 9 news release.
The philanthropic gift will support the future center’s capital projects and further its mission to find a cure for childhood cancer, officials said.
Remember this?
In May 2025, the collaborating institutions obtained their lead funding source for a multiyear campaign geared toward securing development funds.
The source—a $150 million donation from the Kinder Foundation—put into motion shared plans to construct the Kinder Children’s Cancer Center, the nation’s largest comprehensive cancer center dedicated exclusively to children and the acceleration of drug development, Community Impact previously reported.
The joint facility is slated to be located in the 6700 block of Main Street in the Texas Medical Center and will be outfitted with inpatient beds, ambulatory clinics and state-of-the-art research labs. Additional project plans suggest that the new center will be connected to Texas Children’s via a sky bridge, per prior coverage.
UT MD Anderson and Texas Children’s announced their partnership in early February 2025, stating that its purpose was to expand care access for patients, combine pediatric subspecialty care and children’s cancer services under one program and further pediatric cancer clinical trials, among other goals.
The present
Officials said in the Sept. 9 news release that the Onstead Foundation’s commitment will provide “critical support” in improving the treatment outcomes for pediatric patients and families.
The Onstead Foundation seeks to financially support worthy causes in honor of the legacy left by Robert R., or “Bob,” and Kay M. Onstead. Bob was a dedicated member of UT MD Anderson’s Board of Visitors during his lifetime, in addition to having founded the Houston-based Randalls grocery store chain. His wife, Kay, serves as a current board member, per release details.
“Children facing cancer deserve every possible advantage, from access to innovative treatments to the support systems that help families navigate a challenging journey,” said Mary Onstead, daughter of Kay Onstead and trustee of the foundation. “The Onstead family is proud to support Kinder Children’s Cancer Center and UT MD Anderson’s commitment to the vision of working collaboratively with Texas Children’s to redefine what is possible in pediatric cancer care and research.”
In recognition of the charitable organization’s donation, a designated space within the upcoming medical facility will be named in its honor, officials said.
A quick note
Information on the Kinder Foundation’s website states that the Kinder Children’s Cancer Center began operating earlier this year using existing Texas Children’s facilities.
Officials said via news release that planning is currently underway for the new center’s construction. However, a timeline for the project is unclear as of press time.
