DONALD P. MAFRIGE MAKES HISTORIC $5 MILLION PLEDGE TO SKY HIGH FOR KIDS

Historic Sky High for Kids Pledge Honored With Tribute to Nancy and Donald P. Mafrige at Texas Children's Hospital

HOUSTON, TX, UNITED STATES, October 14, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Sky High for Kids today announced a historic $5 million pledge from Houston philanthropist Donald P. Mafrige, the largest single philanthropic commitment in the organization's history. The pledge, which will be fulfilled through annual contributions of $1 million over five years, represents a significant investment in the Houston-based national nonprofit's mission to end childhood cancer.

In recognition of the extraordinary commitment, Texas Children’s Hospital unveiled a special tribute honoring Nancy and Donald P. Mafrige on the seventh-floor Sky High for Kids patient floor. Opened in 2020, the floor serves children receiving cancer treatment and their families. The recognition honors the Mafrige family's extraordinary generosity and longstanding commitment to improving the lives of children and families facing serious illness.

The announcement follows another major fundraising milestone for Sky High for Kids. Just three weeks earlier, the organization's 11th annual Ladies Who Brunch raised a record-breaking $2.95 million, marking an extraordinary period of philanthropic support for the nonprofit as it approaches its 20th anniversary in 2027.

The decision to make the pledge was deeply personal for Donald P. Mafrige, whose family has firsthand experience with the care provided by Texas Children’s Hospital. “I wanted to make a charitable contribution, and I asked my son David what charities I should consider giving to. He immediately said Sky High,” said Donald P. Mafrige. “The connection felt personal because of my daughter’s experience at Texas Children’s Hospital many years ago, and it was just an easy decision.”

The commitment builds upon an existing relationship between Sky High for Kids and the Mafrige family, beginning with the involvement of Donald's son, David Z. Mafrige, and his wife, Lynnette, who were among the family's first supporters of the organization. “I got to know Sky High's founder Brittany Hebert Franklin, and I loved the cause behind the nonprofit,” said David Z. Mafrige. “It was easy to get behind what Sky High was doing to support the hospital’s pediatric cancer work.”

Lynnette Mafrige credits the organization's close relationships with the children and families it serves as a particularly meaningful aspect of its work. “The personal stories and the personal contact you have through Sky High really impact you,” said Lynnette Mafrige. “It makes the giving feel much more personal.”

The Mafrige family's philanthropic commitment reflects a longstanding tradition of service and generosity. Donald P. Mafrige served 30 years in the military, retiring with the rank of colonel. Together with his late wife, Nancy, who passed away in February 2026 after 65 years of marriage, he built a family legacy of philanthropy and a shared commitment to improving the lives of others.

The family's philanthropic history also includes support for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, reflecting a multigenerational commitment to pediatric healthcare and charitable giving.

The $5 million pledge also represents an important milestone for Sky High for Kids as the organization expands its efforts to secure transformational philanthropic commitments through its Legacy Gift Division. These investments will support the nonprofit's broader mission, which includes funding pediatric cancer research, advanced therapies, and direct services supporting families in treatment right now.

“Donald Mafrige’s extraordinary generosity represents the kind of lasting commitment that can change what is possible for children fighting cancer,” said Brittany Hebert Franklin, founder and CEO of Sky High for Kids. “What makes this gift especially meaningful is the family's personal connection to Texas Children’s and the trust they have placed in Sky High. We are deeply grateful to Donald, to the memory of Nancy, and to David and Lynnette for their belief in our mission and their commitment to its future.”

ABOUT SKY HIGH FOR KIDS
Founded in 2007 by Brittany Hebert Franklin, Sky High for Kids is a Houston-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to ending childhood cancer. Its mission is to bring communities together to provide comfort, fund research, and save lives of children fighting pediatric cancer and other life-threatening conditions. Since its founding, Sky High has contributed more than $43 million toward its mission, supporting leading hospitals and research institutions while providing direct assistance to children and families undergoing treatment.

Sky High's major philanthropic commitments include support for the Inspiration4 Advanced Research Center at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee; the first pediatric cancer immunotherapy center at Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Center in Houston; and Texas Children's Global HOPE initiative, which expands pediatric cancer and blood disorder care in sub-Saharan Africa. Through programs including Sunday Suppers, Cancer Warrior Packs, and Sky High Adventures, the organization also provides comfort, resources, and meaningful experiences for children and families navigating cancer treatment.

As Sky High for Kids approaches its 20th anniversary in 2027, it continues to expand its philanthropic partnerships and advance its vision of a world without childhood cancer.

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Anabeth Guthrie
Public Content
+1 202-316-3540
anabeth@public-content.com