HDL giving VCU $4,000,000 to update sports facilities

VCU’s Department of Intercollegiate Athletics has received the largest corporate partnership gift in its history. Health Diagnostic Laboratory, Inc. (HDL, Inc.) has agreed to a $4 million partnership to support the VCU Department of Athletics and its future capital projects.

March 6, 2013; 9:03 AM • by Fan of the Fan

Virginia Commonwealth University’s Department of Intercollegiate Athletics has received the largest corporate partnership gift in its history. Health Diagnostic Laboratory, Inc. (HDL, Inc.) has agreed to a $4 million partnership to support the VCU Department of Athletics and its future capital projects.

“The progress of a national research university is accelerated by strong partners with big ideas and a commitment to excellence in every way,” said Michael Rao, president of VCU and the VCU Health System. “For Virginia Commonwealth University, one of those best partners is Health Diagnostic Laboratory, 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-thinking investment in our Top 50 national research university.”

The partnership will encompass the entire facility footprint for Athletics. Each athletics facility will fall under the umbrella of the “HDL, Inc. Athletic Village” and have premier street signage that will enable the HDL, Inc. brand to be displayed prominently. Among the facilities in the HDL, Inc. Athletic Village will 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 the promotion 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 advanced testing, 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 youth wellness program featuring VCU student-athletes engaging with community members to promote health and wellness in neighborhoods around the athletic village.

Founded in 2009, HDL, Inc.’s mission is to prevent and reverse cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and related diseases. HDL, Inc. is a CAP-accredited leader in health management and offers the most comprehensive laboratory test menu of risk factors and biomarkers for cardiovascular and related diseases. Among the services HDL, Inc. provides are blood and laboratory analyses, complete health risk assessment administration, chronic disease management programs consistent with nationally accepted protocols, advisory services through Clinical Health Consultants at no additional cost, interpretation of test results and HIPAA-compliant, population-based reporting to enable physicians to analyze patient trends.

“VCU Athletics is thrilled to enter into this partnership with Health Diagnostic Laboratory,” said VCU Director of Athletics Ed McLaughlin. “We share a common passion – improving the lives of people in Richmond – and that passion makes our partnership a natural fit. The HDL Athletic Village at VCU will brand 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 this University,” said VCU head men’s basketball coach Shaka Smart. “Our program’s number one aim is to put or student-athletes in the very best position possible to succeed. The generous support of HDL goes a long way towards helping us make this goal a reality.”

The HDL, Inc. partnership is the second major partnership agreement that VCU Athletics has announced in the last week. Last week the department announced a $3 million donation from MeadWestvaco for the proposed Basketball Practice Complex.