Since they founded Canyon Ranch in 1979, Mel and Enid Zuckerman have dedicated themselves to sharing knowledge and the power of their mission – helping people make a long-lasting personal and emotional connection to wellness. The Zuckermans’ robust philanthropy demonstrates their commitment to improving the health and well-being of people of all ages, walks of life, and cultural backgrounds.

Canyon Ranch’s success has made possible countless donations of scholarships, funds, materials and expertise to benefit non-profit organizations focused on improving the health and lives of the underserved. Highlights of Canyon Ranch giving include:

• Donation of thousands of Canyon Ranch vacations over the last 20 years to non-profit, local, national and international organizations that work to improve health and well-being or that support research related to health and wellness.
• Partnership with the Dream Street Foundation since 1988 in hosting dozens of young adults with life-threatening illnesses each summer at Canyon Ranch.
• The Healthy Living Scholarship Program – more than 5,000 people with health risks and challenges who could not otherwise afford to participate have spent a life-changing week at the Life Enhancement Center at Canyon Ranch in Tucson since it opened in 1988.
• Support since its inception for Speaking of Women’s Health, a national organization devoted to saving women’s lives through education.

The Zuckerman family’s private giving has also focused on spreading their healthy living message to the greatest possible number of people. The extent of the family’s long-time support of the Arizona Health Sciences Center is reflected in the naming of the University of Arizona’s Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health and the Canyon Ranch Center for Prevention and Health Promotion.

In 2002, the Zuckerman family and Canyon Ranch co-founder Jerry Cohen established a separate entity, Canyon Ranch Institute, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization whose mission is to educate, inspire, and empower every person to prevent disease and embrace a life of wellness. In 2006, Richard Carmona, M.D., M.P.H., FACS, 17th Surgeon General of the United States (2002-2006), became president of the Institute. The Institute has partnerships with organizations and visionary individuals who share a commitment to creating opportunities for wellness in communities worldwide, particularly those communities that have traditionally been underserved.