Donald P. Mafrige pledges $5 million to Sky High for Kids

Houston philanthropist Donald P. Mafrige has pledged $5 million to Sky High for Kids, the largest single gift in the nonprofit’s history. Texas Children’s Hospital honored Nancy and Donald P. Mafrige as the organization nears its 20th anniversary and expands fundraising for childhood cancer research and family support.

Why it matters: - The $5 million pledge is the largest single philanthropic commitment in Sky High for Kids history. - The gift adds major funding for pediatric cancer research, advanced therapies and direct support for families in treatment. - The pledge arrives as Sky High for Kids pushes toward its 20th anniversary in 2027.

What happened: - Sky High for Kids announced a historic $5 million pledge from Houston philanthropist Donald P. Mafrige. - The pledge will be paid as $1 million a year over five years. - Texas Children’s Hospital unveiled a tribute honoring Nancy and Donald P. Mafrige on the seventh-floor Sky High for Kids patient floor. - The floor opened in 2020 and serves children receiving cancer treatment and their families. - The announcement came on Oct. 14, 2026, in Houston.

The details: - Sky High for Kids said the pledge is the largest single commitment in the organization’s history. - The nonprofit said the gift will support its mission to end childhood cancer. - The Mafrige family’s connection to Texas Children’s Hospital made the decision personal for Donald P. Mafrige. - Donald P. Mafrige said he asked his son David which charities to consider, and David immediately suggested Sky High. - David Z. Mafrige and his wife, Lynnette, were among the family’s first supporters of Sky High for Kids. - David Z. Mafrige said he got to know Sky High founder Brittany Hebert Franklin and was drawn to the nonprofit’s mission. - Lynnette Mafrige said the organization’s close relationships with children and families make giving feel more personal. - Donald P. Mafrige served 30 years in the military and retired as a colonel. - Nancy Mafrige died in February 2026 after 65 years of marriage. - The family also has supported St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. - Sky High for Kids said the pledge is an important milestone for its Legacy Gift Division. - Since its founding in 2007, Sky High for Kids says it has contributed more than $43 million toward its mission. - The organization supports hospitals, research institutions and families through direct assistance and programming. - Sky High for Kids has backed the Inspiration4 Advanced Research Center at St. Jude, the first pediatric cancer immunotherapy center at Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Center and Texas Children’s Global HOPE in sub-Saharan Africa. - Its programs include Sunday Suppers, Cancer Warrior Packs and Sky High Adventures. - Three weeks before the pledge announcement, the group’s 11th annual Ladies Who Brunch raised a record $2.95 million.

Between the lines: - The tribute at Texas Children’s signals how closely tied the Mafrige family is to the hospital and to Sky High for Kids. - The timing suggests Sky High for Kids is gaining momentum from both major events and legacy-gift fundraising. - The family’s long record of military service and charity helps frame the pledge as part of a multigenerational giving pattern. - Brittany Hebert Franklin said the gift reflects a lasting commitment that could change what is possible for children fighting cancer.

What’s next: - Sky High for Kids will collect the pledge through annual payments over the next five years. - The nonprofit is continuing to seek transformational gifts through its Legacy Gift Division. - Sky High for Kids will keep building toward its 20th anniversary in 2027 and its broader goal of a world without childhood cancer.

The bottom line: - Donald P. Mafrige’s pledge gives Sky High for Kids a record-setting boost and deepens a family relationship rooted in Texas Children’s Hospital and pediatric cancer care.