Donald Trump Appoints Mindy Hildebrand, Houston Philanthropist and Doughnut Shop Owner, as Ambassador to Costa Rica

Along with her billionaire husband Jeffrey, the pair donated a lot of money to the campaign

President Donald Trump appointed a second Houstonian to serve as an ambassador. Melinda “Mindy” Hildebrand will serve as the ambassador to Costa Rica, per a report on Fox News. Hildebrand is the wife of Jeffery Hildebrand, a billionaire who is the founder, chairman, and CEO of Hilcorp Energy Company.

Mindy is vice chair of the Hildebrand Foundation and also owns River Oaks Donuts. She is also a vice president at Hilcorp Ventures Inc. Trump announced her appointment on Truth Social. The post, captured by Mediaite, has Trump listing her various positions and saying, “She will fight tirelessly to protect America’s Interests abroad, especially in Trade and Immigration.”

The Hildebrand Foundation does a lot of philanthropic work in Houston, and its mission statement is “to provide for the poor and needy through faith-based organizations.” It has donated $10 million to the Houston Parks Board, $1.5 million to M.D. Anderson’s ASPIRE program for cancer and smoking prevention, and the couple made a $25 million gift to the University of Texas’s petroleum and geosystems engineering department, which is now named after them.

The Hildebrands are also listed by the New York Times as being among the “highest profile” oil magnates to donate to the Trump campaign, with the Houston Chronicle reporting that the Hildebrands donated just shy of $3 million.

So, maybe it’s not about the doughnuts at all.