With cancer rates on the rise, especially in people under 50, City of Hope sat down with Hedigan to learn more about his community-building vision and why City of Hope is an essential partner.
A Vision for Healthier Communities
City of Hope’s 2026 Construction Industries Alliance (CIA) Spirit of Life® honoree Dan Hedigan is a true believer that “home is where the heart is.”
His successful land development career is anchored on the simple concept that a strong and vibrant community starts with a loving home – and serving the needs of the people within it.
“For FivePoint, creating a healthy and thriving community goes beyond land planning and physical structures,” Hedigan said. “Our larger mission is to strengthen communities, create life-enriching opportunities and connect people in meaningful ways.”
Hedigan added that immediate, close-to-home access to high-quality jobs, schools, parks, and medical care are all essential elements to designing a healthy and flourishing community.
An Invitation to City of Hope
With 20% of residents leaving Orange County for their cancer care and cancer rates rising — especially among people under 50, City of Hope saw the need to bring its leading-edge research and world-class care directly to the county’s approximately 3.2 million residents.
In 2018, FivePoint extended an invitation to City of Hope leadership to consider opening a campus in Irvine – located on the FivePoint Gateway campus next to the FivePoint-developed Great Park Neighborhoods community – in the heart of Orange County.
Four years later, in response to this invitation from FivePoint as well as the people of Orange County, City of Hope opened the Lennar Foundation Cancer Center, followed by an adjoining 73-bed specialty hospital dedicated entirely to cancer that opened in 2025. It is the only comprehensive cancer campus in the region.
A New Phase in the Partnership
While the vision to expand cancer care, prevention, early detection, and leading-edge treatment was realized through the introduction of new City of Hope facilities in Orange County, Hedigan stressed that the ultimate goal is far from complete.
Hedigan did not hesitate when asked to lead the 2026 CIA Spirit of Life fundraising campaign, which supports a $5 million pledge to endow the City of Hope Orange County Physician-in-Chief Chair. This endowment helps fund critical research, and acts as a magnet to attract more world-class scientists and physicians, such as CIA’s inaugural chair and City of Hope’s physician-in-chief Dr. Edward Kim.
Looking ahead, Hedigan expects the partnership to grow in ways that deliver even greater impact — expanding research capabilities, creating jobs, improving access, and continually elevating the standard of care for families at every stage of their cancer journey.
A Message to Other Potential Partners
In reflecting on FivePoint’s longstanding partnership with City of Hope, Hedigan believes that business leaders have an opportunity to give back to the communities that have given so much to them – and that everyone has meaningful role to play in improving the health of the people and communities they serve.
“Supporting the fight against cancer is one of the most meaningful commitments a business leader can make. When we partner with City of Hope, we’re investing not only in lifesaving research but in the health and future of our communities.”
Think big with City of Hope:
- Explore visionary funding partnerships that expand access to advanced cancer care and research close to home and work.
- Connect with City of Hope Corporate Partnerships and Philanthropy to learn about volunteer leadership needs and partnership options
- Bring early detection, screening and prevention programs to your employees.
- Find out how to get involved with Walk for Hope near you!
- To learn more, contact Laci Naber, Director of Corporate Philanthropy, [email protected].