For Immediate Release: Thursday, 4 December 2003
Contact: Dave Geringer, UTPA Sports Information Director, (956) 381-2240

UTPA ATHLETICS ADDS RIO GRANDE REGIONAL HOSPITAL AS $50,000 SPONSOR

EDINBURG, TX-The University of Texas-Pan American's athletic department and the Rio Grande Regional Hospital in McAllen have reached a sponsorship agreement worth $50,000 for the 2003-2004 academic year.

The funds will go toward general operating needs for UTPA athletics and will be used to support the university's 14 athletic programs. In return, Rio Grande Regional Hospital will receive advertising space on the university's lighted marquee at the corner of University and Nevarez Drives in Edinburg along with other advertising considerations. In addition to the financial agreement, the two organizations also hope to cooperate through volunteer opportunities for student-athletes and other similar ventures.

Bill Burns, Chief Executive Officer of the Rio Grande Regional Hospital, says the agreement is part of a longstanding relationship with the university and its president, Dr. Miguel Nevarez. "We've been friends of the university for a long time," said Burns. "Dr. Nevarez and I have worked together before, and we're pleased to be working with the athletic department. This will give us an opportunity to keep our name before the public, and it helps."

The Rio Grande Regional Hospital offers comprehensive health services, and is located at 101 East Ridge Road in McAllen. The hospital is in the middle of a 60 million dollar expansion, which will increase its capacity by more than 100 beds. The expansion will allow the hospital to increase its women's and surgical services, as well as involving a complete renovation and face lift of the current building and the addition of new state-of-the-art technology. It's the first major expansion since the hospital opened in 1982, and it is scheduled to be completed in June, 2004.

The hospital was recently honored with a 2003 Distinguished Award for Clinical Excellence by the HealthGrades organization, a consumer healthcare advisory and data research company in Colorado. At the award ceremony, Burns himself was honored by Texas State Senator Eddie Lucio (D-Brownsville) for his outstanding role in leading the hospital.

"On behalf of The University of Texas-Pan American and our entire athletic program, I want to express our sincere gratitude to Bill Burns and the Rio Grande Regional Hospital for their outstanding contribution and support," said UTPA Director of Athletics William J. Weidner. "We are extremely proud to be associated with a prominent health care provider such as the Rio Grande Regional Hospital and with an accomplished business leader like Bill Burns. This partnership between our athletic department and the Rio Grande Regional Hospital will provide our programs with an opportunity to realize goals that may not have been possible without that support. We look forward to a long relationship with this outstanding health care facility."

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