MESSAGE FROM
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT DAWN DUNBAR
Dear Friends of Hawai‘i Pacific Health,
Many people desire to leave their legacy in the world. Whatever
their passions in life – from philanthropy to family – a legacy
reflects these personal values. In Hawai‘i, we take much pride in
teaching our familial history and values to our descendants. Char-
itable values that are passed down can build an intentional legacy
that will bring about change in our community and inspire our
families for generations to come.
Family philanthropy is beautifully demonstrated by the Wilcox
family. Recently, we received a gift from the descendants of
George Norton Wilcox. George was a successful entrepreneur
who established a trust fund that would give back to the community, including public health.
George felt a deep connection to Kaua‘i and his commitment to the island would set an example
for future generations.
George envisioned a community hospital for Kaua‘i, and after his death, George’s family decided to
transform his dream into reality by building a hospital in his honor. The 94-bed G.N. Wilcox Memorial
Hospital opened in 1938, funded by the trust’s gift of $200,000. Since its opening, Wilcox Medical Cen-
ter has been at the forefront of innovation, such as pioneering an X-ray program for early identification
of tuberculosis, and becoming the first neighbor island facility to obtain a Level III Trauma designation.
Last year, November 1, 2018 marked Wilcox Medical Center’s 80 th anniversary and the Wilcox descen-
dants celebrated the milestone with a major gift. Providing great health care at Hawai‘i Pacific Health’s
medical centers is our calling, and the Wilcox family has supported our work through decades. We are
inspired and thankful for their spirit of giving, and for passing it on to the next generation, leaving a
legacy that continues to serve our community.
Mahalo for touching the lives of our patients with your gifts!
With gratitude,
Dawn M. Dunbar
Senior Vice President, Philanthropy
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