The Hansel family’s historic $10 million gift launches a new era of care, compassion and community well-being for Sonoma County

For generations, the Hansel family has turned to Providence Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital in times of joy and need. It’s where two of Marilyn and Henry Hansel’s children were born and later, nine of their grandchildren. This deep connection inspired the Hansels to give back in a way that will shape the future of health care in Sonoma County.

In spring 2025, Marilyn and Henry made a $10 million gift to Providence Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital Foundation, the largest in the hospital’s 75-year history and one of the most significant philanthropic contributions ever made in the county. This extraordinary gift will establish the Hansel Family Care Center and set in motion an ambitious expansion of health care services for residents across the North Bay.

The decision to support Memorial reflects the family’s business philosophy as much as their personal values. Hansel Auto Group operates under the internal slogan “Caring Drives Us,” a principle Henry sees as naturally extending to health care.

“The idea is that we care for one another, we care for our community, and we care for our customers,” Henry explains. “The Providence promise of ‘Know me, care for me, ease my way’ has that same expression of compassion.”

The Hansel Family Care Center

The naming of the Hansel Family Care Center carries special significance for the family. Just as Henry’s father insisted on putting the family name on their dealerships because “the customer needs to know where to go if they have an issue,” Henry says, the care center’s name represents accountability and compassion.

“Adding ‘Family’ was important because we hope that our children, grandchildren and someday our great grandchildren, will look at this building and say, ‘I am so proud to be a Hansel, and I want to carry on the heritage and the legacy to the community forever,’” Henry explains.

Inspiring others and building community

The Hansels’ landmark gift is launching the Foundation’s $25 million Caring Together Initiative. The couple recognized from the beginning that their giving would serve as seed money for a larger vision. “We knew other people would need to be involved for this to become a reality,” Marilyn says. Their leadership has inspired others, including Norma Person’s substantial contribution to creating the Dr. John B. Reed Center for Cardiac Care.

“The reason we continue to give to Providence is that the care here covers every walk of life — from the poor, rich, vulnerable, unhoused, people struggling with mental illnesses — everyone is accepted at Providence ” Marilyn emphasizes.

Looking ahead, the Hansels see their gift as instrumental in maintaining Memorial’s crucial health care role. The family was inspired by the philosophy of fellow philanthropists Jane and Herb Dwight: seeing their gift at work during their lifetime rather than waiting for posthumous giving. Henry says, “Why not do it while you’re here, and you can see the goodness it’s creating?”