Hogs for the Cause has announced that Children’s of Mississippi, the pediatric arm of the University of Mississippi Medical Center, has officially opened the Hogs for the Cause Wing, a newly renovated inpatient unit designed to enhance care for children battling childhood diseases, such as cancer, leukemia, and sickle cell anemia. The project was made possible through a $1.5 million gift from Hogs for the Cause, which funded the transformation of 22,500 square feet on the 5th floor of Batson Tower into a modern, child-centered healing environment.
The new wing features 25 upgraded inpatient rooms, expanded accommodations for parents staying overnight, and quiet, peaceful corridors designed to mirror the family friendly atmosphere of the Sanderson Tower.
“Hogs for the Cause is committed to improving pediatric cancer and blood disorder care across the country, and we are honored to bring that commitment to Mississippi,” said Becker Hall, Hogs for the Cause Co-Founder and CEO. “This wing reflects what can happen when communities rally together for children. It will make a profound difference for families for years to come.”
The opening comes at a crucial time for Mississippi, which faces a disproportionately high rate of children living with sickle cell disease, driven by the state’s demographic and health equity challenges. As the state’s only children’s hospital, Children’s of Mississippi provides the majority of inpatient and specialty care for children with cancer and blood disorders, making the expanded Hogs for the Cause Wing an essential resource for families statewide.
“The Hogs for the Cause Wing enhances our capacity to deliver advanced hematology and oncology care to children across Mississippi,” said Dr. Betty Herrington, director of pediatric neuro-oncology and fellowship. “This investment ensures that families facing the most complex diagnoses can remain close to home while receiving world class treatment. We are honored to partner with Hogs for the Cause in expanding this critical service.”
Hogs for the Cause, a national 501(c)(3) organization known for uniting barbecue culture to support families facing pediatric cancer, has become one of the country’s premier funders of pediatric hematology and oncology programs. Its investment in Mississippi reflects a growing national commitment. In addition to the new wing at Children’s of Mississippi, Hogs for the Cause has recently supported major pediatric cancer and blood disorder units at Ochsner Hospital for Children in New Orleans, the Aflac Cancer & Blood Disorders Center at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Prisma Health Children’s Hospital—Upstate in Greenville, South Carolina, and East Tennessee Children’s Hospital in Knoxville.