The Dr Pepper Museum announced a transformational commitment from The Hillman Family Foundation, in honor ofCornerstone Caregiving, totaling $1,023,000 in support of the Museum’s mission and the upcoming installment of the World’s Largest Dr Pepper Bottle in downtown Waco. This is one of the largest private donations in the Museum’s history.
The commitment begins with a $123,000 lead gift, a nod to Dr Pepper’s 23 flavors, designated for the 23-foot-tall bottle installation in the Museum’s courtyard in May 2026. The bottle will serve as a striking new landmark in downtown and a tribute to Waco’s role in Dr Pepper history.
In recognition of this generosity, The Hillman Family Foundation, in honor of Cornerstone Caregiving, will be permanently recognized on the World’s Largest Dr Pepper Bottle, which will be unveiled during the Museum’s Birthday Bash celebration on Saturday, May 9. The event will also mark the Museum’s 35th year of serving the community as a nonprofit museum.
Located between Live Oak and Cornerstone Caregiving’s headquarters at Fifth and Mary, the Museum sits at the heart of continued investment and growth in downtown Waco. In 2027, Cornerstone Caregiving will officially move its corporate headquarters across the street from the Museum into the old Waco Drug Company building where Dr Pepper inventor Charles Alderton worked for decades. Cornerstone, a leading nationwide provider of in-home care for seniors, has over 400 locations and will employ over 200 individuals in the downtown building.
Over the past five years, the Museum has experienced sustained year-over-year growth in visitation. In 2025, the Museum recorded its highest attendance in history, welcoming 272,000 visitors. As Waco’s leading cultural destination, the Museum continues to draw guests from across the country and around the world while serving as a significant driver of downtown activity.
“The Hillman Family has been instrumental in supporting the continued growth and revitalization of downtown Waco,” said Autumn Outlaw, Director of Marketing and Development for the Dr Pepper Museum. “From their involvement with Live Oak to bringing Cornerstone Caregiving’s headquarters to Fifth and Mary, they continue to invest meaningfully in projects that strengthen our community. We are deeply grateful for their generosity, leadership, and long-term vision.”
Michael Hillman said the family views this commitment as an investment in both the Museum and the broader Waco community.
“As a lifelong Waco native of over forty years, I have always been extremely proud of Waco as the birthplace of Dr Pepper and the fantastic job the Dr Pepper Museum does in telling its story,” said Hillman. “Waco’s downtown has become a destination in no small part due to the hard work and dedication of the team at the DPM. Our family is proud to support that team, the Museum, and this very exciting project.”
The unveiling of the 23-foot bottle installation will take place during the Museum’s 35th Birthday Bash on May 9, 2026.
