President Cigarroa, the Honorable John T. Montford and Debbie Montford celebrate the progress of the Campaign for the Future of Health.
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Excitement filled the air at the home of The Honorable John T. and Debbie Montford on July 10 as the couple hosted the annual meeting of the UT Health Science Center San Antonio President’s Development Board. Montford, who is president of the Western Region of AT&T, is chairman of the development board.

Campaign achieves 89 percent of financial goal
“I have looked forward to this evening when I could report on the progress of The Campaign for the Future of Health,” said Francisco G. Cigarroa, M.D., UT Health Science Center president. Board members applauded as Dr. Cigarroa announced that the Health Science Center has achieved 89 percent of its campaign goal. “We have raised $269 million to date and are just $31 million short of our goal of $300 million!”

Dr. Cigarroa said the Health Science Center has received communitywide support and thanked the board members for their personal support and the support from the companies and foundations they represent. “Each and every one of you is very important to our mission,” he said. “You should be very proud of what has been accomplished.”

Major gifts highlighted
He noted that all gifts contribute to the success of the campaign, and mentioned the importance of transformational gifts such as the $25 million gift from Bill Greehey and the Greehey Family Foundation, as well as the $25 million gift from Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long. He also recognized $5 million gifts from the AT&T Foundation and the Valero Foundation as well as a $4 million gift from the Brown Foundation.

Members of the President’s Development Board and faculty met July 10 for the annual development board meeting at the home of John Montford, development board chair.

Two key goals
“The primary focus of The Campaign for the Future of Health is to enhance our university’s research infrastructure. We have two key goals: to build the state-of-the-art South Texas Research Facility and to grow the university’s endowment,” Dr. Cigarroa said. “I am pleased to report that together, The University of Texas System Board of Regents and the Texas Legislature have contributed $100 million of the $150 million required for the South Texas Research Facility. And, we have another $26 million in private gifts raised for the building.”

President’s Excellence fund
President Cigarroa also announced that the President’s Excellence fund has reached $143 million of its $150 million goal, and that the Health Science Center’s endowment has a market value of $406 million, an increase of more than 60 percent in the last seven years.

“Philanthropy at our Health Science Center has grown,” Dr. Cigarroa said. “Last year cash gifts to our Health Science Center were $55 million, with an additional $17 million raised in new pledges. It was the most successful fundraising year in our 40-year history!”

Excellence in education
At the close of the meeting, Montford proudly announced that his son, John, is a fourth-year medical student at the Health Science Center. “Health professions students can go anywhere in the world to receive an education,” he said. “But they are getting the best education right here in San Antonio at the UT Health Science Center. They will be our future health care leaders. The Health Science Center has great potential to improve lives and save lives.”

Campaign challenge
As he joined Dr. Cigarroa at the lectern, Montford made a final challenge to the board. “‘We make lives better’ is more than a brand for this university. It is a promise,” he said. “Let’s bring the campaign to a close in 2008! What a worthy objective.”

'Top Five Health Challenges' presentation
The program ended with a special presentation by David Hillis, M.D., on the topic of “50-plus: Tackling our Top Five Health Challenges.” Dr. Hillis is the chair of the Department of Medicine and the Dan F. Parman Distinguished Chair in Medicine.