Campaign News

10 December 2008

Campaign Gifts to Support Trinity University’s Center for Leadership Development in Health Management Program

Gifts bolster initiative of Dream. Inspire. Achieve. The Campaign for Trinity University.

The Campaign for Trinity University received two gifts totaling $250,000 – one from a Trinity trustee and the other given in the trustee’s honor in support of the University’s health care administration department, a nationally recognized graduate program. The Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas has given a gift of $200,000 in honor of Trinity Trustee and alumnus Douglas Hawthorne, chief executive officer of Texas Health Resources, the parent organization for Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas and 12 additional faith-based hospitals in North Texas.

“This philanthropic partnership is about a passion to see Trinity’s health care administration program continue its reputation as a national center for excellence in health care leadership,” said John R. Brazil, president of Trinity University.  “We are very grateful for Mr. Hawthorne’s leadership, and for this critical gift from the Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas.”

U.S. News & World Report’s 2008 edition of “America’s Best Graduate Schools” recognized Trinity’s program as one of the top programs in health care management in the country. The Campaign for Trinity’s Health Care Administration program, an initiative within The Campaign for Trinity, will enhance Trinity’s efforts to develop exceptional managers and innovative leaders in the health management field.

Martha and Douglas Hawthorne ’69, ’72 have made a $50,000 personal gift to the Campaign. During his career, Mr. Hawthorne has been recognized as one of Modern Healthcare’s top 100 Most Powerful People in Healthcare. “The gift is one of the many ways Doug has supported the program,” said Mary Stefl, professor and chair of the health care administration department. “He has mentored the students in our residency program and launched many of their careers in the field.”

Both gifts will support Trinity’s Center for Leadership Development in Health Management program. Launched three years ago, the Center prepares future leaders for health services administration with an emphasis on the integration of conceptual and experiential learning. The Center offers students a real world approach and equips them with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to be capable managers and innovators.

The campaign gifts will also help to create a commons, to be named in honor of Mr. Hawthorne as a tribute to his contributions to Trinity’s health care administration program, where students can meet with faculty, alumni, and industry leaders in a relaxed environment for collaborating and learning.

Dream. Inspire. Achieve. The Campaign for Trinity University is the most ambitious and challenging advancement initiative in Trinity’s history. To date, $183.3 million in gifts and pledges have been received toward the campaign’s $200 million goal. The campaign will allow Trinity to continue to recruit the best and brightest students, regardless of their financial circumstances. In addition to scholarships, the Campaign also will support innovative new academic programs that capitalize on Trinity’s strengths and meet the demands of the global society in which students must thrive.