Generous Benefactors Continue to Give Back
Friends of UT Southwestern remain a key contributor to the institution's progress and growth, generously providing funding and other support.
Changing lives and inspiring hope
Amid the challenges of 2021, community philanthropists continued to step up and support UT Southwestern in unprecedented ways. Generous donors helped UT Southwestern break ground on a new Biomedical Engineering and Sciences Building with UT Dallas; endowed scholarships and academic positions for its new School of Public Health; and supported groundbreaking research in areas ranging from cancer to heart disease to genetic disorders.
Nowhere was this groundswell of community support more evident than in helping UT Southwestern tackle the scourge of brain disease. In a tremendous spirit of giving, thousands of donors have made gifts to UT Southwestern’s Campaign for the Brain since its launch in 2015, surpassing its initial fundraising goal. Under the leadership of Campaign Chair Robert B. “Bob” Rowling, more than $500 million in philanthropic support was raised for the Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, which is being matched with $500 million from UT Southwestern for a total philanthropic impact of more than $1 billion.
“Each of us either is directly affected or will be affected at some point by brain disease or knows someone who is. We all have a stake in this,” Mr. Rowling said. “I am honored to stand alongside so many committed leaders who share Terry’s and my vision of making North Texas and the O’Donnell Brain Institute the epicenter of brain discovery.”
“It was no surprise that Bob didn’t hesitate when asked to lead the Campaign for the Brain, knowing how important it was for the future of UT Southwestern and even more importantly, for the futures of the millions upon millions of patients suffering from diseases of the brain,” said Daniel K. Podolsky, M.D., President of UT Southwestern.
Family touched by lung transplant patient’s gift pays it forward
Before pulmonary fibrosis damaged his lungs, Tim Ervin had been a talented trumpet player. In 2014, he received a lifesaving double-lung transplant at UT Southwestern and went on to fulfill a life goal of playing at a professional sports venue. Years later, Mr. Ervin played taps at the funeral of his music mentor, Jack W. White. To continue paying it forward, Mr. White’s family decided to make a contribution to UT Southwestern’s lung disease/disorder research in Mr. Ervin’s honor.
Every Gift Makes an Impact
Every gift makes a powerful impact on the journey toward greater human health, global leadership in medicine, and pioneering scientific discovery. To find out more, contact the Office of Development & Alumni Relations at 214-648-2344 or go to engage.utsouthwestern.edu.
