Alice Jan Minatra was no stranger to philanthropy. In fact, she dedicated her life to helping others. She gave freely of her time, talent and resources to many Houston charities including the Houston Symphony League, Rice University, the Salvation Army and Child Advocates.
According to her daughter, Amanda Hesse, Minatra was “a very generous woman who couldn’t turn her back to a person, especially a child in need. My brother, David, and I are both very proud of her accomplishments and her generosity to others.” So, after a lifetime of philanthropic endeavors, it did not surprise anyone when Minatra remembered her favorite charities, including Texas Children’s Hospital, in her will.
Minatra’s gift to Texas Children’s Hospital was not only inspired by her philanthropic spirit, but also by an event that occurred years earlier. When Amanda was very young, Minatra took her to Texas Children’s Hospital for surgery.
The staff at the hospital treated her daughter with such wonderful care that Minatra thought of TCH when planning her will.
Little did Minatra realize that in 2003 Amanda would return to Texas Children’s Hospital seeking cancer treatment for her own son, Carson. Sadly, Minatra would not live to meet her grandson, nor would she know that her gift to TCH would someday help him in his fight against cancer.
Today, Carson is a happy, thriving toddler. And, thanks to his grandmother’s gift, Carson and children like him will continue to benefit from the research and treatment that Minatra helped fund.
You too can make a difference in the lives of our children and their families. To create a planned or deferred gift benefiting Texas Children’s Hospital, contact Rachel S. Kronenberger or via e-mail at rskronen@texaschildrens.org.