Together, We Empower the Next Generation

Dat Hoang’s philanthropic journey began early in his career when he participated in a volunteer project at Mary Bird Perkins. Impressed by the Cancer Center’s dedication to providing the highest quality treatment and compassionate support to all patients, regardless of ability to pay, he was inspired to do more.

Soon after, he made his first donation to Mary Bird Perkins, helping fund world-class care and an array of support services in our community.

“Louisiana faces one of the highest cancer mortality rates in the country, and access to quality cancer care is challenging, especially in rural areas” Dat said. “Mary Bird Perkins is making a real difference in the lives of people in this state. Being from Lafayette, Louisiana, it personally hits close to home with the recent partnership with Opelousas General in the Acadiana area.

Over time, his commitment to creating a legacy of support for the future of cancer care in the Gulf South grew. But the profound impact of his gift personally resonated when Dat lost his grandfather to oral cancer in 2020 and his father to liver cancer in 2022, within days of receiving an official diagnosis, and Dat starting a new career in Georgia. Those experiences gave Dat an even clearer understanding of how critical it is that every person has access to high-quality cancer care that is delivered with excellence and compassion.

In addition to his annual contributions, Dat wanted to honor the legacy of his two beloved family members with a gift that will live on for years to come. At just 26 years old, he made the thoughtful decision to leave a planned gift to Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Foundation, ensuring future generations will have access to high-quality cancer care. By investing in the Foundation at a young age, the impact of his gift will be even greater because it allows his investment to grow over time.

“The way I viewed it, life can change instantly at any given moment. I wanted to have a plan in place that survives both me and my family—one to benefit all in need,” Dat said. He hopes that his gift inspires other young people to consider their estate plans to maximize their impact and leave a legacy they are proud of.