Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Estate of Fresno Accountant Gifts $4M to Valley Children's Hospital
Bill McEwen updated website photo 2024
By Bill McEwen, News Director
Published 4 years ago on
July 29, 2020

Share

The estate of accountant Donald Emil Gumz continues to bless greater Fresno — this time with a $4 million gift to Valley Children’s Hospital.

Portrait of Todd Suntrapak, president/CEO, Valley Children's Healthcare

Mr. Gumz’s generous gift will have a significant impact on our ability to continue to expand our outpatient services on our main campus in Madera, allowing us to serve more kids in the years ahead.” — Todd Suntrapak, president and CEO, Valley Children’s Healthcare 

The donation will be recognized in a new outpatient center planned at the healthcare campus in Madera County.

“Mr. Gumz’s generosity was driven, in part, by his commitment to making a difference in the lives of children for generations to come — children he would likely not know or would not see,” said Todd Suntrapak, president and CEO of Valley Children’s Healthcare.

“But he believed deeply in the idea that investing in our future generations would be essential for the future of this Valley that he loved and called home. Mr. Gumz’s generous gift will have a significant impact on our ability to continue to expand our outpatient services on our main campus in Madera, allowing us to serve more kids in the years ahead.”

Gumz Estate Donated $4.66 to Fresno State in May

In May, the Gumz estate announced a $4.66 million donation to support Fresno State’s Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology. The gift provided $3.7 million toward the renovation of the university’s research winery while the other $933,000 was earmarked for the Center for Irrigation Technology.

The enology building at Fresno State, which includes the research winery, will be named the Donald E. Gumz Enology Building.

A Lifetime of Giving

Gumz, who died in September 2018 at the age of 84, was born and raised in Fresno. He graduated from Edison High School and though Gumz came from a family of grape growers, he became an accountant. His professional career started with a local entrepreneur and developer and ended with the Vie-Del Company, which makes brandy, wine, and juice concentrates.

“(He) was a true son of the San Joaquin Valley,” said David Zoldoske, trustee of the estate and Gumz cousin. “As part of his legacy, he wanted to provide for the greater Fresno region to leave it better than ever before. His estate will fund programs that help children, students, women, the homeless, and our senior citizens. Mr. Gumz left a significant contribution to Valley Children’s knowing that improving the health of the young will positively benefit the Central Valley for generations to come.”

During his lifetime, Gumz supported organizations fighting hunger and abuse, and promoting children’s health and the arts. Recipients included Valley Children’s, Marjaree Mason Center, Poverello House, Fresno Art Museum, Ronald McDonald House, and Hinds Hospice.

DON'T MISS

Augillard, Douglas Lead the Way as Bulldogs Rally Past Long Beach State

DON'T MISS

Israel Strikes Without Warning in Beirut, Kills at Least 15 as Cease-Fire Sought

DON'T MISS

Trump Taps Rollins as Ag Chief in Final Cabinet Pick

DON'T MISS

Fresno State Becomes Bowl Eligible, Defeats Colorado State on Senior Night

DON'T MISS

After Fresno Visit, Newsom Announces $24.7M Taxpayer-Funded Apprenticeship Program

DON'T MISS

How Will Merced County Fund Public Safety After Measure R’s Failure?

DON'T MISS

As Atmospheric River Soaks California, Farmworkers Await Flood Aid Promised in 2023

DON'T MISS

Sacramento Region Gained People but Flubbed Economic Opportunities Over 50 Years

DON'T MISS

Nations at UN Climate Talks Agree on $300B a Year for Poor Countries in a Compromise Deal

DON'T MISS

What to Know About Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Trump’s Pick for Labor Secretary

UP NEXT

How Will Merced County Fund Public Safety After Measure R’s Failure?

UP NEXT

Tulare County Man Arrested After Allegedly Threatening to Kill Middle School Girls, Staff

UP NEXT

Richardson Close to Cementing Northeast Fresno Council Race

UP NEXT

Visalia Motorcyclist Killed in Collision on Walnut Avenue

UP NEXT

Christine Pelosi Leads Charge to Ensure Every Vote Counts in Tight Duarte-Gray Race

UP NEXT

Dolly Parton’s Wish? For Fresno County Children to Read

UP NEXT

Man Found Dead in Fresno’s Roeding Park Identified as Bay Area Resident

UP NEXT

Fresno Authorities Search for Domestic Violence Suspect Considered Armed and Dangerous

UP NEXT

Business, Environmental Interests Oppose South Fresno Industrial Plan. What’s Next?

UP NEXT

Take a Bow, Bulldog Football Fans. Some Power 4 Schools Would Love to Have You.

Bill McEwen,
News Director
Bill McEwen is news director and columnist for GV Wire. He joined GV Wire in August 2017 after 37 years at The Fresno Bee. With The Bee, he served as Opinion Editor, City Hall reporter, Metro columnist, sports columnist and sports editor through the years. His work has been frequently honored by the California Newspapers Publishers Association, including authoring first-place editorials in 2015 and 2016. Bill and his wife, Karen, are proud parents of two adult sons, and they have two grandsons. You can contact Bill at 559-492-4031 or at Send an Email

Fresno State Becomes Bowl Eligible, Defeats Colorado State on Senior Night

7 hours ago

After Fresno Visit, Newsom Announces $24.7M Taxpayer-Funded Apprenticeship Program

10 hours ago

How Will Merced County Fund Public Safety After Measure R’s Failure?

10 hours ago

As Atmospheric River Soaks California, Farmworkers Await Flood Aid Promised in 2023

11 hours ago

Sacramento Region Gained People but Flubbed Economic Opportunities Over 50 Years

12 hours ago

Nations at UN Climate Talks Agree on $300B a Year for Poor Countries in a Compromise Deal

24 hours ago

What to Know About Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Trump’s Pick for Labor Secretary

1 day ago

What to Know About Scott Turner, Trump’s Pick for Housing Secretary

1 day ago

Trump Taps Investor Scott Bessent as Treasury Secretary

1 day ago

NATO Head and Trump Meet in Florida for Talks on Global Security

1 day ago

Augillard, Douglas Lead the Way as Bulldogs Rally Past Long Beach State

LONG BEACH — Amar Augillard led Fresno State with 25 points and David Douglas Jr. made a go-ahead 3-pointer with 42 seconds left as the Bull...

7 hours ago

7 hours ago

Augillard, Douglas Lead the Way as Bulldogs Rally Past Long Beach State

7 hours ago

Israel Strikes Without Warning in Beirut, Kills at Least 15 as Cease-Fire Sought

7 hours ago

Trump Taps Rollins as Ag Chief in Final Cabinet Pick

7 hours ago

Fresno State Becomes Bowl Eligible, Defeats Colorado State on Senior Night

10 hours ago

After Fresno Visit, Newsom Announces $24.7M Taxpayer-Funded Apprenticeship Program

10 hours ago

How Will Merced County Fund Public Safety After Measure R’s Failure?

11 hours ago

As Atmospheric River Soaks California, Farmworkers Await Flood Aid Promised in 2023

12 hours ago

Sacramento Region Gained People but Flubbed Economic Opportunities Over 50 Years

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend