Hoag Receives $7.5 Million Gift From George And Julia Argyros

NEWPORT BEACH, CA — Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian announced another $7.5 million gift from Julia and George Argyros, a real estate investor, former U.S. Ambassador to Spain, and former owner of the Seattle Mariners. The Argyros family has given tens of millions of dollars to Hoag since the 1980s, according to the hospital. Their donations have helped fund advancements in care for cancer, diabetes, nursing, and heart and vascular diseases.

In 2016, the hospital established the Julia Argyros Center for Nursing Excellence.

"For many years, I have watched with great admiration as Hoag has used its resources to thoughtfully develop what is without question one of the nation's finest nursing services," said Julia.

Hoag administrators thanked Argyros for a gift they say will help fund education for staff.

“As a direct result of Julia Argyros’ extraordinary generosity and kindness, her name has become synonymous with Hoag’s commitment to nursing excellence,” said Flynn A. Andrizzi, president of the Hoag Hospital Foundation. “The enormity of the impact of her gifts is incalculable. It is safe to say that every nurse scholar at Hoag, and every patient and family member whose lives they touch, has good reason to be grateful to her. All of us at Hoag certainly are.”

Dr. Andrizzi noted that Mrs. Argyros’ gifts have provided scholarships to more than 1,300 Hoag nurses, enabling them to pursue advanced education. As a result, 83.2 percent percent of Hoag nurses have received their Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degrees, and many have gone on to receive advanced degrees, including their Master of Science in Nursing.

“Mrs. Argyros’ amazing gift will allow us to build upon the momentum of her earlier gifts, propelling our nursing services beyond our current capabilities while significantly broadening the reach of the Julia Argyros Center for Nursing Excellence.” Describing the gift as a “watershed,” Dr. Martin added that it will help “drive Hoag beyond generalized nursing to a comprehensive corps of nurse specialists, laying the groundwork for the next transformation of nursing at Hoag," said Rick Martin, Hoag’s senior vice president of clinical operations and chief nursing officer.