RICHMOND, Va., March 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Virginia Commonwealth University's Department of Intercollegiate Athletics has received the largest corporate partnership gift in itshistory. Health Diagnostic Laboratory, Inc. (HDL, Inc.) has agreed to a $4 million partnership to support the VCU Department of Athletics and its futurecapital projects.
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"The progress of a national research university is accelerated by strong partners with big ideas and a commitment to excellence in every way," saidMichael Rao, president of VCU and the VCU Health System. "For Virginia Commonwealth University, one of those best partners is Health DiagnosticLaboratory, an innovative corporation that shares our focus of improving human health and the human experience.
"We are grateful for their support and enthusiasm for VCU and our nationally prominent athletics program, and we thank them for their forward-thinkinginvestment in our Top 50 national research university."
The partnership will encompass the entire facility footprint for Athletics. Each athletics facility will fallunder the umbrella of the "HDL, Inc. Athletic Village" and have premier street signage that will enablethe HDL, Inc. brand to be displayed prominently. Among the facilities in the HDL, Inc. Athletic Villagewill be the Stuart C. Siegel Center, planned VCU Basketball Complex, Sports Backers Stadium,Thalhimer Tennis Center and Cary Street Gym.
"The HDL and VCU partnership goes beyond just the funding of a premier athletic facility, and by thepromotion of our company within VCU it is our hope that we keep math and science jobs in Virginia -and hopefully here in Richmond at HDL," said Tonya Mallory, HDL, Inc.President, CEO and Co-founder. "HDL places an enormous value on saving lives and preventing disease through advancedtesting, lifestyle change, and the type of active living that is enhanced by the athletic village."The partnership will include a coordinated effort by VCU Athletics, VCU Recreational Sports and HDL,Inc.to create a program that will promote wellness initiatives within the facility and an inner-city youthwellness program featuring VCU student-athletes engaging with community members to promotehealth and wellness in neighborhoods around the athletic village.
Founded in 2009, HDL, Inc.'s mission is to prevent and reverse cardiovascular disease, diabetes, andrelated diseases. HDL, Inc. is a CAP-accredited leader in health management and offers the mostcomprehensive laboratory test menu of risk factors and biomarkers for cardiovascular and relateddiseases. Among the services HDL, Inc. provides are blood and laboratory analyses, complete healthrisk assessment administration, chronic disease management programs consistent with nationallyaccepted protocols, advisory services through Clinical Health Consultants at no additional cost,interpretation of test results and HIPAA-compliant, population-based reporting to enable physicians toanalyze patient trends.
"VCU Athletics is thrilled to enter into this partnership with Health Diagnostic Laboratory," said VCUDirector of Athletics Ed McLaughlin. "We share a common passion - improving the lives of people inRichmond - and that passion makes our partnership a natural fit. The HDL Athletic Village at VCU willbrand our current facilities under one umbrella and give us continuity as we grow."
"We are extremely appreciative of HDL and the investment they've made into the future of thisUniversity," said VCU head men's basketball coach Shaka Smart. "Our program's number one aim isto put our student-athletes in the very best position possible to succeed. The generous support of HDLgoes a long way towards helping us make this goal a reality."
The HDL, Inc. partnership is the second major partnership agreement that VCU Athletics hasannounced in the last week. Last week the department announced a $3 million donation from MeadWestvaco for the proposed Basketball PracticeComplex.
About VCU and the VCUMedical CenterVirginia Commonwealth University is a major, urban public research university with national and international rankings in sponsored research. Located indowntown Richmond, VCU enrolls more than 31,000 students in 222 degree and certificate programs in the arts, sciences and humanities. Sixty-six ofthe programs are unique in Virginia, many of them crossing the disciplines of VCU's 13 schools and one college. MCV Hospitals and the healthsciences schools of Virginia Commonwealth University compose the VCU Medical Center, one of the nation's leading academic medical centers. Formore, seewww.vcu.edu.
About Health Diagnostic Laboratory, Inc.Health Diagnostic Laboratory, Inc. (HDL, Inc.), a CAP accredited leader in health management, offers a comprehensive test menu of risk factors andbiomarkers for cardiovascular and related diseases. Our systematic approach identifies factors contributing to disease and provides a basis foreffective treatment, allowing physicians to more effectively manage patients. As an added value, patients receive a personalized overview of their riskfactors along with intensive counseling from expert Clinical Health Consultants at no additional cost, improving compliance and enhancing satisfaction.For more information about HDL, Inc., visit www.hdlabinc.com.
SOURCE HDL, Inc.
