(Left to right): Robert Braithwaite, Maxwell Pickup, Natalie Pickup, Carole Pickup, Devon Martin, Kevin Martin, Madelyn Martin, and Caroline Pereira

Hoag Breaks Ground On New  CareMar Recovery Center  Members of the Muzzy family with Caroline Pereira

On October 1, 2025, Hoag celebrated a milestone in the fight against addiction and mental health challenges with the groundbreaking of the CareMar Recovery Center, a state-of-the-art facility that will transform recovery care in our community. CareMar embodies Hoag’s vision of personalized care for individuals and families affected by substance use disorders.  The center is supported by a visionary $25 million lead gift from the Pickup and Martin families, whose longtime dedication to expanding access to compassionate, comprehensive substance use treatment has made this center possible. This project is further strengthened by generous donor commitments to expand the facility’s capacity. The new center will be unlike any other in the region, located on Hoag’s Newport Beach campus, offering residential programs, intensive outpatient services, and a full spectrum of medical support as well as group, well-ness, and family services. By combining expert clinical care with holistic support, CareMar aims to meet patients where they are—addressing both addiction and the complex mental and physical health needs that of-ten accompany it. With nearly 370,000 residents in Orange County affected by addiction, the center will fill a critical gap in care, providing access to innovative treatment programs and specialized physician leadership.  The ceremony brought together leaders from Hoag and the community, dedicated volunteers, philanthropic partners, and staff who have been instrumental in bringing this vision to life.   Members of the Muzzy family with Caroline Pereira

The CareMar Recovery Center is a place where compassion leads to new beginnings. Thanks to the generosity and dedication of our community, we are creating a space where people can find courage, healing, and the support they need to reclaim their lives. This center is changing the story of recovery in Orange County.”  Caroline A. Pereira, MBA  President, Hoag Hospital Foundation  As construction begins, excitement in the community is palpable. CareMar is a promise of hope, healing, and access to care that changes lives. The generosity of the Pickup and Martin families, whose visionary gift established this center, along with the Muzzy, Curci, Hoag, and Smith families, and many other philanthropic partners, is ensuring that Hoag continues to lead the way in personalized, compassionate, and transformative addiction care. Together, these milestones reflect a community united by purpose, generosity, and belief in recovery. Every contribution and every act of support moves Hoag closer to its vision of ensuring that no one faces addiction alone.  Rendering of the new CareMar Recovery Center Devon Martin shares remarks at the groundbreaking ceremony  Members of the Pickup and Martin families John Curci and Gary Pickett

Melissa Smith and her children

The groundbreaking marked the beginning of a transformative chapter for Hoag’s neurobehavioral and mental health programs. Deepening this commitment, Robert Braithwaite, Hoag's president and CEO, announced the establishment of the Daniel G. Smith Endowed Chair in Ad-diction Medicine and Prevention, made possible through the generosity of the George Hoag Family Foundation. This chair was established in memory of the late Daniel Smith, great-grandson of George and Grace E. Hoag.  Daniel dedicated his time and heart to supporting those in recovery, offering fellowship and guidance within the community. This endowed chair will provide funds in perpetuity that will be used to build and grow CareMar’s innovative, whole-person approach, expand access to evidence-based treatment, and support the next generation of addiction specialists.      What began as a shared vision has become a collective act of care. Through the generosity of families and donors, Hoag is redefining what it means to heal, one life and one family at a time. For my late husband Danny, addiction treatment and recovery was a calling with purpose. The Daniel G. Smith Endowed Chair in Addiction Medicine and Prevention ensures that his passion lives on, advancing care, driving prevention, and offering hope to families long before crisis. Together with the CareMar Recovery Center, this represents a foundational step in moving addiction care upstream, replacing shame and despair with dignity, science, and hope.”   — Melissa Smith

To learn more about supporting CareMar, please contact Jenn Brown, executive director of development, Hoag Hospital Foundation, at 949.764.7454 or Jennifer.Brown@hoag.org.