McRae Foundation’s generosity continues with significant gift to UMMC cancer center campaign

The Selby and Richard McRae Foundation, a longtime supporter of causes in Jackson and throughout the state, is continuing its philanthropy with a significant gift to It’s About Time: The Campaign for the UMMC Cancer Center and Research Institute.

The $125 million campaign is helping fund construction of a 250,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art cancer center that will bring CCRI care, research and education under one roof. More than 80% of that goal has been raised.

The gift brings the Selby and Richard McRae Foundation’s support of UMMC to $2.3 million, reflecting donations to the Growing Campaign for Children’s of Mississippi, the renovation of the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at the children's hospital and construction of the Selby and Richard McRae Children's Trauma Unit at the Col. Harland Sanders Children’s Emergency Department.

“Over time, we have recognized the impact of the Medical Center on the Jackson metro area and throughout Mississippi,” said Vaughan McRae, who, with siblings Susan McRae Shanor and Richard McRae Jr., is a trustee of the foundation named for their parents. “Our family has deep roots in Jackson and Mississippi and know the difference a cancer center could make in the state.”

Mississippi, with a cancer mortality rate that’s among the worst in the country, also struggles with access to health care, something the cancer center can help address.

Building this new home for CCRI is a cornerstone of the Medical Center’s goal of achieving National Cancer Institute designation. The nation’s 74 NCI‑designated cancer centers, located in 37 states and the District of Columbia, are recognized for leading scientific research and for serving their communities by training the next generation of biomedical researchers and health care professionals.

The Selby and Richard McRae Foundation has supported educational, health care, cultural, religious and social causes in Jackson and throughout the state since its founding in 1965. Since its inception, the foundation has given more than $35 million to over 500 organizations.

Richard McRae was the son of Samuel Proctor McRae, who founded McRae’s Department Stores in 1902. Vaughan and Richard McRae Jr. joined the business in the 1970s, with the latter serving as president and CEO from 1984 to the company’s sale to Saks Department Store Group in 1994.

“Our family has been grateful for the loyalty of McRae’s customers, and we continue to hear how deeply people remember and value those experiences,” he said. “The Selby and Richard McRae Foundation carries that legacy forward. This gift reflects our commitment to strengthening health care in the state and improving Mississippians’ quality of life.”

The dedication of the McRae family, shown through the Selby and Richard McRae Foundation, is making Mississippi a better place, said Dr. Rod Rocconi, Ergon Chair for Cancer Research and CCRI director.

“As a native Mississippian, I’m deeply moved by the McRae family’s continued commitment to strengthening health care in our state,” he said. “Their generosity reflects a belief that Mississippians deserve world-class cancer care close to home. This gift helps accelerate our vision for a comprehensive cancer center that will save lives, expand access and bring hope to families across Mississippi.”

Meredith Aldridge, executive director of UMMC’s Office of Development and Alumni Engagement, said this gift reflects the values of the Selby and Richard McRae Foundation and the McRae family.

“The Selby and Richard McRae Foundation has shaped Mississippi through decades of thoughtful, community‑centered philanthropy, and we are honored that they’ve chosen to invest in this transformational campaign,” she said. “Their support brings us closer to building the cancer center our state needs and deserves.”