For Sabrina and David Porter, philanthropy is not abstract; it is deeply personal.
Referring to his son who struggled to survive after birth and then grew to become a leading health care provider, Porter said, “If a child that premature can go on to that kind of success, then there is hope, real hope, for others.”
That belief — hard-earned through experience — inspired the Porters’ series of meaningful gifts to the University of Mississippi Medical Center, including support for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, the Cancer Center and Research Institute (CCRI) and, most recently, the Center for the Advancement of Youth (CAY).
“We are profoundly grateful for Sabrina and David’s support. Their gift to CAY demonstrates their extraordinary generosity, compassion to help all Mississippi children and their vision for what CAY can accomplish with additional philanthropic support,” said Dr. Dustin Sarver, executive director of the Center for the Advancement of Youth and professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior.
“The Porters understand that great care extends beyond medicine; it’s about restoring hope to patients and families at their most vulnerable moments,” Dr. Sarver continued. “Their partnership strengthens our mission in deeply meaningful ways.”
A Beginning Marked by Uncertainty and Extraordinary Care
Porter and his wife, Sabrina, married in their late 20s and endured three miscarriages before becoming pregnant with their son, Andrew. The pregnancy was fraught with complications; his wife was bedridden for six months and ultimately suffered a stroke.
The baby was born nine weeks premature at just three pounds, seven ounces — dropping below three pounds in the days that followed. At the time, survival outcomes in such instances were far from assured.
Andrew Porter’s early years were marked by repeated medical challenges, including numerous surgeries related to his premature birth. Through it all, the care team at Children’s of Mississippi stood beside the family while the Porters’ steadfast faith sustained them.
“The doctors and nurses embraced us completely,” said David Porter, a resident of Waynesboro, Mississippi. “They didn’t just treat our son; they — and prayer — carried us through one of the hardest seasons of our lives.”
The Porters deeply believe in the power of prayer to make the impossible possible — a belief confirmed by their son’s survival and ultimate thriving. Today, Dr. Andrew Porter’s story is one of answered prayer, resilience and achievement. He excelled academically, earned a Doctor of Medical Sciences degree, pursued a career in medicine, worked in the very emergency room where he was born and became a hospital CEO at the age of 30.
A practicing physician assistant, he and his wife, Lyn, live in Waynesboro with their three children: Camp, Mary Francis and Grady.
Honoring a Life and the Care That Made It Possible
Andrew Porter’s journey is the foundation of his parents’ NICU endowment.
“That gift is about gratitude,” David Porter explained. “And it’s about making sure other families have the same chance we had. It’s about letting others know that it’s okay to pray for the impossible along with hope.”
A plaque in the NICU at Children’s of Mississippi honors Andrew Porter — a quiet reminder of what expert care, compassion and hope can make possible.
Investing in the Future of Cancer Care
While the NICU gift was rooted in personal experience, the Porters’ broader philanthropy reflects a thoughtful awareness of unmet needs across Mississippi’s health care landscape.
The Porters’ support of The Campaign for the Cancer Center and Research Institute grew from a recognition of need. While cancer had not directly affected their immediate household, its impact on extended family and close friends was undeniable.
“Everyone knows someone touched by cancer,” the donor said. “One of my closest friends recently lost his wife. That brings it home in a very real way.”
He also recognized a larger opportunity: strengthening access to comprehensive cancer care in Mississippi and the surrounding region. The campaign is funding a new five-story 250,000 square-foot- center that will combine advanced collaborative cancer care with convenience and comfort for patients as well as research labs and clinical trials. The Cancer Center and Research Institute is also pursuing designation as an NCI-designated Cancer Center.
“We realized people here don’t always have the same access as places like MD Anderson (the largest cancer center in the world),” he said. “We want to help change that.”
Seeing the Need and Responding
Continuing their thoughtful awareness of unmet health care needs across Mississippi, Sabrina and David Porter’s most recent gift supports pediatric behavioral and developmental heath care.
The Center for the Advancement of Youth offers comprehensive, coordinated care across disciplines for children with behavioral or developmental issues throughout Mississippi. During a tour of the facility, Porter was struck by both the demand for services and the dedication of its staff.
“They’re seeing an avalanche of patients every day,” he said. “There is a significant shortage of behavioral health providers, including developmental pediatricians, child and adolescent psychiatrists, psychologists and Board Certified Behavior Analysts not just in Mississippi, but across the country. Despite this, CAY is doing incredible work to support the children and families they serve. That’s where we want to focus moving forward.”
The Heart of the Gift: Restoring Hope
Porter’s generosity is grounded in a lifetime of disciplined work. After four decades in commodity trading, he transitioned into a portfolio of business ventures but his approach to giving remains intentional and hands-on.
“We want our contributions to be direct, measurable and impactful,” he said. “At UMMC, you can see the difference. That matters.”
At its core, Porter’s philanthropy is ultimately about hope.
“I want people who feel hopeless to have hope,” he said. “I want them to know that someone cares, even if they never know our names. There is nothing worse in life than hopelessness. A gift to support a hospital can change that. It can mean a child lives and a family stays whole. I’ve lived that.”
Through their support of the NICU, CCRI and the Center for the Advancement of Youth, Sabrina and David Porter are helping ensure that more Mississippians experience that same hope at the moments they need it most.
To support the University of Mississippi Medical Center, visit http://www.umc.edu/givenow/ or contact Suzanne Crell, senior director of principal gifts, at screll@umc.edu or (601) 815-8778.
By Bill Dabney/UM Foundation