San Antonio (Oct. 5, 2004) – Students learning the art of health professions and bench research at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio are benefiting tremendously from a number of significant recent philanthropic contributions.
Health Science Center President Francisco G. Cigarroa, M.D., on Oct. 5 announced that private donors gave a record $2.5 million for scholarships during recent months. The funding includes $1.5 million from The Robert J. and Helen C. Kleberg, Jr. Foundation in support of residents in the School of Medicine, and $240,000 from the San Antonio Livestock Exposition Inc., which operates the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo. The San Antonio Livestock Exposition scholarships aid medical and nursing students at the Health Science Center.
Donors who gave $100,000 or more also included The Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long Foundation, which is supporting the education of South Texas medical students; The Mrs. Elizabeth Huth Coates Charitable Foundation, also supporting medical students; Herbert Pearce and Dr. Martha Wood, whose gifts are aiding students in the Health Science Center Dental School; and the South Texas Academic Rising Scholars (STARS), supporting medical students.
Other donors include Dr. William and Mrs. Rita Head, whose scholarships are helping medical and nursing students; the Dental School Alumni Association; the Hispanic Broadcasting Corp. and Congressman Henry Bonilla; Howard A. Halff; members of the Health Science Center President’s Council; and the Allied Health Student Scholarship Fund.
“Our generous donors have made a strong commitment to stand by the physicians, nurses, dentists, bench researchers and allied health professionals we are educating for the future,” Dr. Cigarroa said. “We have huge unmet needs for health and science education, and these donors are doing something about it. This $2.5 million will truly change the lives of South Texas students and will, through them, promote the health and well-being of our city, region and state.”