Lowenfield family commits $300,000 to tumor board room at new Fox Cancer Center

Ronnie and Ashley Lowenfield have committed $300,000 to establish the Ronald W. & E. Ashley Lowenfield Tumor Board Room at the Steve and Nancy Fox Cancer Center, now under construction at Texas Tech Health El Paso, according to El Paso Matters.

Inside the tumor board room, multidisciplinary teams of physicians, surgeons, radiologists and other specialists will review complex cancer cases and collaborate on individualized treatment plans for patients.

Lowenfield, CEO of El Paso-based Casa Auto Group, said the decision to support the room reflects his belief in the power of collaboration. "I think so much magic happens when people with a common vision get together and discuss ideas," he said. "I wanted it to be a place where people could get together, be inspired and change the world."

Nearly 3,500 El Pasoans are diagnosed with cancer each year. Many must travel hundreds of miles for specialized care, separating them from their families and adding significant costs. The Fox Cancer Center, a partnership between Texas Tech Health El Paso and University Medical Center of El Paso, will be the first comprehensive cancer center serving West Texas, combining cancer imaging, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, research and clinical trials in one location. Construction began in September 2025.

The Lowenfields' commitment to accessible cancer care is personal. Cancer claimed the lives of Ronnie's grandfather and Ashley's grandfather. In 2023, Ronnie Lowenfield was diagnosed with cancer in his thumb. Fellow El Paso philanthropist Steve Fox, whose family gave $25 million to establish the center, connected Lowenfield with physicians in Houston and guided him through treatment. Lowenfield is now cancer-free.

"My hope is that the patients and their families have a sense of security because of the existence of this cancer center," Lowenfield said. "The financial burden of travel, the emotional burden of being away from your loved ones is lightened."

Ashley Lowenfield, drawing on her experience as a parent of five children, said she hopes patients and families entering the cancer center will find warmth and comfort. "Just a welcoming place where even in being there, they feel some sense of healing before any treatment starts," she said.

The gift is part of Texas Tech Health El Paso's Building Hope Campaign, which supports construction of the Fox Cancer Center and acquisition of specialized treatment equipment.