Thanks a million! H-E-B donates $1 million to UTRGV South Texas Diabetes & Obesity Institute
Christmas came early to The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley with a $1 million gift from H-E-B. H-E-B's generous gift will assist UT Rio Grande Valley in establishing an endowed Chair benefitting the South Texas Diabetes & Obesity Institute (STDOI). With this gift, UTRGV gained an ally in the fight against diabetes and obesity and the promotion of health. The crowd cheered when Dr. Guy Bailey, UTRGV President, and H-E-B representatives opened a large present with the check inside. Laura Gump, group vice president and general manager of H-E-B's Border Region, said H-E-B is proud to partner with UTRGV to embark on advancing education and health care in the Valley. "The opening of UTRGV and the School of Medicine will be monumental for our region and will be at the epicenter of the national education conversation," Gump said. "The positive impact to our families, our students, and our future generations are immeasurable. This is a shining moment in the Rio Grande Valley's history, and H-E-B is profoundly honored and proud to be a partner in the historic transformation taking place in our great South Texas region." Dr. Francisco Fernandez, Inaugural Dean of the UTRGV School of Medicine, said H-E-B's gift will allow UTRGV and the institute to connect its innovations in scientific and medical research to the community, especially diabetes, which is prevalent in the Valley. The HE- B gift is eligible for up to $250,000 from The University of Texas System Research Incentive Program for the Comprehensive Universities (UTRIP-CU).