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Hospital Chief: Brooks Discussed $15 Million Gift
An Oklahoma hospital executive testified Thursday that country singer Garth Brooks considered donating as much as $15 million – not just $500,000 – to the facility if it would name a women’s center after his late mother.
Brooks is suing the Integris Canadian Valley Regional Hospital in Yukon, saying it would not name a women’s center for Colleen Brooks after receiving $500,000 from him. Colleen Brooks died of cancer in 1999. The center never was built.
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Academy of Country Music Awards, MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas.
Hospital president and CEO James Moore testified Thursday that discussions initially involved a much larger gift, The Tulsa World reported.
An internal document from the hospital quotes Brooks as saying a $15 million gift for naming rights was “exactly” what he had in mind.
Moore denied ever making a verbal agreement with Brooks on naming the proposed women’s health center after his mother in exchange for the $500,000 donation. Moore said that gift from Brooks was anonymous and “unrestricted,” meaning Integris could use the money at its discretion.
Brooks donated the money anonymously in December 2005, and Integris confirmed it was from him shortly afterward.
Under cross examination, Moore acknowledged he did promise Brooks he would do something to honor his mother, but maintained there was no agreement about naming a center.