Development
Infinity Campaign Kicks Off in El Paso to Raise $25 Million for Medical School
Numerous
community leaders and supporters turned out recently to help the El Paso
campus kick off its Infinity Campaign, set to raise $25 million over
the next two years to establish the first four-year medical school on
a U.S.-Mexico border.
“This is the most ambitious fund-raising effort that our campus has ever undertaken,” says Dr. Jose Manuel de la Rosa, regional dean of the El Paso School of Medicine. “But with nearly $16 million committed by local benefactors and with the level of support demonstrated by El Pasoans, we will achieve our goal.”
The community has already been very generous in showing its support – from donating the land to millions more in financial support. El Paso Electric pledged $5 million, which is the second-largest donation ever for Texas Tech. According to President M. Roy Wilson, M.D., M.S., the funds will go toward finishing the laboratories in Medical Science Building I, currently under construction.
"El Paso Electric's $5 million pledge to the establishment of a medical school marks our support and commitment to a project that will shape the future of our community and positively affect the lives of thousands of area residents,” says Gary Hedrick, president and CEO of El Paso Electric.
Although additional medical school funding for faculty was not appropriated during this year’s regular session or the first special session, the end of the second special session brought new hope with Gov. Rick Perry recommending funding through a special process requiring approval by the ten members of the Legislative Budget Board. Unfortunately, the state legislature’s funding priorities are being reviewed due to the hurricanes Katrina and Rita that pounded the Gulf Coast.
But a visit by the staff of the Legislative Budget Board is still in the works. “We remain hopeful that the impending visit will demonstrate the importance and need for our project and that some level of support will be provided,” de la Rosa said.