Our Roots: Community & Care

In a small home in Peoria, Illinois, Ed and Betty McMurray raised twelve children—eight boys and four girls—on a simple but profound foundation: family is everything, service is a duty, and joy is a pursuit.

What began as a single household has blossomed into a beautiful, sprawling tapestry of twenty-five grandchildren and a new generation of great-grandchildren. Today, the McMurray name reaches from the neighborhood streets of Peoria to the lights of Chicago, and from the coast of the Carolinas to the halls of D.C. But as the family branches have stretched further apart, their roots have only dug deeper into a shared purpose.

The Brothers McMurray Family Charity is more than an organization; it is a living tribute to the values Ed and Betty instilled in their children. It is the proof that no matter where life takes us, we never forget where we came from—or who we are called to help.

Our mission isn't just something we do; it’s who we are. For the McMurrays, the fight against cancer isn't a headline or a distant cause—it is a deeply personal battle fought at our own dinner table.

Our resolve is fueled by the faces we love:

• A Father’s Courage: We carry the memory of Ed McMurray, who fought this disease with the same immense strength he used to lead our family.
• The Resilience of Four: We stand in awe of four of the twelve siblings—Mary, Dave, Jon, and Mark—who stood face-to-face with cancer and emerged as proud survivors.

Cancer has left an indelible mark on our family, but it did not leave us broken. Instead, it forged a powerful resolve to ensure that other families never have to walk that path alone.

We have turned our family’s journey into a platform for impact. By advancing medical research and expanding access to life-saving care, we are working to ensure that every family has the resources, the breakthroughs, and—most importantly—the hope they need to stay whole.