Closer To Home
Group 1 Automotive Contributes $300,000 to Help Bring World-Class Cancer Care to our Borderplex and West Texas Region
Gift to Fox Cancer Center Brings Hope for Cancer Warriors and Their Families Closer to Home
World-class cancer care is coming to El Paso, thanks in part to a friendship forged between two auto dealership leaders united in a mission to bring world-class cancer treatment closer to our Borderplex region.
Group 1 Automotive announced their gift of $300,000 to support the future Fox Cancer Center, which recently broke ground at Texas Tech Health El Paso. The announcement was made Monday at Group 1 Subaru El Paso on Airway Boulevard. In recognition of their contribution to Texas Tech Health El Paso's Building Hope Campaign, the café located within the lobby of the cancer center will bear the name of Group 1 Automotive.
When completed, the center will tackle El Paso's high cancer burden, where death rates exceed national averages and Hispanic families face especially tough odds. Besides helping families, the facility will create up to 500 skilled jobs in oncology, clinical research, and radiation therapy, while establishing El Paso as a key hub for oncology research in the Southwest through advanced clinical trials.
“Group 1 operates six dealerships in the El Paso market and employs over 450 people in this vibrant and growing market. Steve opened my eyes to the disparity of cancer care in this place where we live and work and contribute to the well-being of the community. We are grateful to play a role in providing life-saving cancer treatment in West Texas and the Borderplex,” said Daryl Kenningham, CEO of Group 1 Automotive.
In addition to aligning with Group 1 Automotive’s mission to take care of our El Paso community, the gift symbolizes a strong partnership and shared purpose between Kenningham and Steve Fox, who successfully battled cancer and founded the Fox Auto Team group of car dealerships in El Paso.
“The way Group 1 Automotive approaches community is different than most corporations, and I say that in a very positive way,” Fox said. “They care about and for their communities. And they do it without asking for anything in return.”
The stakes couldn't be higher for families in El Paso. Each year, 541 local cancer patients seek treatment outside their community, with 244 of them making the difficult journey to Houston's MD Anderson Cancer Center. Only 52% of El Paso cancer patients complete their full treatment locally, forcing families to choose between draining savings to pay for out-of-town care or accepting limited, local treatment.
For our Borderplex and West Texas families, these journeys mean more than just medical inconveniences — they tear apart support systems and disconnect families during their most frightening times. The need to travel results in a loss of critical emotional support during patients’ most difficult moments in their lives. Parents often must choose between staying with their children at home or accompanying spouses to distant treatment centers. Grandparents become caregivers while families exhaust resources on gas, hotels, and lost wages. Crucially, this harrowing choice is one that is only available to families who can, financially, absorb the costs of travel and lost wages.
Fox, along with his wife, Nancy, and his family, committed $25 million in 2023 to help establish a comprehensive cancer center that will improve care throughout our Borderplex.
The Fox Cancer Center will be the first comprehensive cancer center in West Texas and our entire Borderplex, located at the heart of a health care desert that spans 1,200 miles from San Antonio to San Diego. When operational, the 350,000-square-foot facility will unite medical oncology, surgical oncology, radiation therapy, advanced imaging, and clinical trials under one roof, handling up to 1,100 cancer cases annually.
Construction began on Sept. 17 at the Texas Tech Health El Paso campus for the $340 million project, which includes both the cancer center and a new clinic building for Texas Tech Physicians of El Paso. The integrated facilities mean that patients will receive faster diagnoses, smoother referrals, and care coordination that keeps families connected throughout their journey.
“This generous contribution from Group 1 Automotive is more than a gift—it's an act of profound partnership that directly fuels our fight against cancer,” said Richard Lange, M.D., M.B.A., president of the university. “It proves that when we collaborate with business leaders in our community, we can shatter the barriers that cancer warriors face and build a future where comprehensive and compassionate cancer care is the norm for our Borderplex.”
The Building Hope Campaign has secured more than $35 million in pledges toward its $50 million goal during its capital phase. This continues to build on unprecedented community support, which includes a partnership with the University Medical Center of El Paso and $130 million in Texas Legislature appropriations.
When the Fox Cancer Center opens, El Paso families will no longer face the heartbreaking choice between proximity and comprehensive care. Instead of packing for Houston, they'll find world-class treatment here, supported by business leaders who had a vision for our Borderplex.
Local residents can learn more about the Fox Cancer Center and support the Building Hope Campaign at ttuhscepimpact.org/fox-cancer-center.
About Group 1 Automotive
Group 1 owns and operates 259 automotive dealerships, 324 franchises, and 39 collision centers in the United States and the United Kingdom that offer 36 brands of automobiles. Through its dealerships and omni-channel platform, the Company sells new and used cars and light trucks; arranges related vehicle financing; sells service and insurance contracts; provides automotive maintenance and repair services; and sells vehicle parts.
Group 1 discloses additional information about the Company, its business, and its results of operations at www.group1corp.com, www.group1auto.com, www.group1collision.com, www.acceleride.com, and www.facebook.com/group1auto.
The Future of Cancer Care in El Paso is HERE
The first comprehensive cancer center to serve West Texas and our Borderplex region, the Fox Cancer Center will transform cancer treatment for our families, friends and neighbors. Now under construction on the Texas Tech Health El Paso campus, the center will open the door to compassionate, comprehensive care, elevate life-saving research, and bring opportunities for innovative clinical trials — right here, in the community we call home. Once completed, the Fox Cancer Center will spare patients and families the emotional and financial burden of traveling far for treatment, ensuring cancer warriors can receive world-class cancer care close to home.
About Texas Tech Health El Paso
Texas Tech Health El Paso serves 108 counties in West Texas and is dedicated to preparing the next generation of health care heroes. Established as an independent university in 2013, Texas Tech Health El Paso is a uniquely innovative destination for medical, nursing, biomedical sciences and dental education and has graduated over 2,600 professionals since 2013, including its first cohort of dental graduates in 2025.
For more information, visit ttuhscepimpact.org.