El Paso’s de Wetter Family Gives $100,000 to Bring Peaceful Cancer Care Closer to Home
The gift to the Fox Cancer Center’s Building Hope Campaign will give cancer patients a private space for hours-long chemotherapy treatments.
A $100,000 gift from El Paso philanthropists Charles and Lori de Wetter and the de Wetter Family Foundation will provide cancer patients with a private place to spend some of the longest hours of their treatment at the new Fox Cancer Center, currently under construction on the Texas Tech Health El Paso campus.
An infusion bay is where patients receive chemotherapy and other medications intravenously. Each private bay will include a reclining chair and a television, with space for family members to stay with the patient during treatment.
“Both Lori and I lost our fathers to cancer,” said Charles de Wetter. “We wanted to make a meaningful contribution that would have a direct and lasting impact on patients and their loved ones. Supporting a private infusion bay felt like a very personal way to do that.”
Why the Bay Matters
Cancer treatment can lead to very different experiences for patients. They may be under anesthesia during surgery or alone in the treatment room during external-beam radiation.
During an infusion, however, the patient may be awake for hours, either talking with nurses or sitting with a family member.
That human contact makes the infusion bay a distinctive part of the treatment experience. An enclosed bay provides privacy while leaving room for conversations and companionship that can matter during a long day of treatment.
Texas Tech Physicians of El Paso oncologist Sumit Gaur, M.D., adds another dimension to the infusion clinic's importance.
“When patients return for chemotherapy again and again,” said Dr. Gaur, “the environment becomes an important part of their experience. A private infusion bay gives them a dedicated space where they can rest, talk with their care team, and have family nearby while they receive treatment.”
How the Center Helps
The Fox Cancer Center is a partnership between Texas Tech Health El Paso and University Medical Center of El Paso, the university’s primary teaching hospital. Together, the two institutions are combining the strengths of academic medicine and community-based healthcare to establish the region’s first comprehensive cancer center.
El Paso has long lacked a comprehensive cancer center that offers a full range of cancer services in one place. A partnership between Texas Tech Health El Paso and UMC conducted a feasibility study and found that in 2021, 541 adult cancer patients from El Paso County received inpatient cancer care outside the county, including 244 who traveled to MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.
“We are all committed to improving the health of our community and our region,” said Jacob Cintron, president and CEO of the El Paso County Hospital District. “Together, we are doing so much more as a team than we could individually. Physician recruitment, equipment acquisition, design and strategy all come together to create this campus as the best place for our community to come for care.”
The Fox Cancer Center is under construction to expand local cancer care in El Paso, bringing together medical, surgical and radiation oncology. The de Wetter family’s gift supports that effort by funding one of the center’s private infusion bays, where patients will receive chemotherapy and other medications.
Once the Fox Cancer Center opens, patients from across the Paso del Norte region will be able to receive treatment in a comfortable setting. The center is designed to serve up to 1,100 patients each year, bringing care teams, pharmacy services and clinics under one roof.
The center is designed to simplify a patient's day. Today, a person who finishes chemotherapy may have to travel across town for radiation. The Fox Cancer Center will eliminate an extra trip between facilities when patients are tired and vulnerable.
A Growing Circle of Local Giving
Charles and Lori de Wetter join other El Pasoans who have funded named infusion bays. Retired nurse Phyllis Davis and her husband, retired physician Pete Davis, gave $100,000 in September 2025 to establish the Phyllis and Harry E. (Pete) Davis II Infusion Bay. In November 2025, L&F Distributors and the LaMantia family gave $100,000 for the Ann LaMantia Infusion Bay.
These gifts support the Building Hope Campaign, which backs construction, equipment and support for the center. The campaign had reached $52.5 million by December 2025. The lead gift was a $25 million commitment from the Fox family, announced in 2023.
Charles de Wetter is an El Paso real estate broker who has long been active in local philanthropy. He served as chair of the El Paso Museum of Art's foundation board and chair of the Paso del Norte Health Foundation board.
“To us, a family legacy is not simply about what we leave behind,” de Wetter said. “It is about the values we pass on, the people we help and the difference we make in the lives of others.”
The university and UMC broke ground on the Fox Cancer Center in September 2025, with support from the Texas Legislature, the Fox family and the Paso del Norte Health Foundation.
Individuals and organizations interested in naming opportunities or supporting the Fox Cancer Center Patient Fund can contact Texas Tech Health El Paso Institutional Advancement at info.ia.ep@ttep.edu.
About Texas Tech Health El Paso
Texas Tech Health El Paso serves West Texas and is dedicated to preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals. 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.
Focusing on excellence in health care education, research, and clinical service, Texas Tech Health El Paso has graduated over 2,600 professionals over the past decade. For more information, visit ttuhscepimpact.org.