AUSTIN, Texas - (Nov. 20, 2007) - Officials with the Statesman Capitol 10,000 and Brackenridge Hospital, a member of the Seton Family of Hospitals, announced today that Brackenridge has been selected as the beneficiary of the 2008 race sponsorship fees. The race is scheduled for Sunday, March 30, 2008 in downtown Austin.
Brackenridge Hospital is a first-time recipient of race sponsorship proceeds. The funding will go toward providing the latest technology and advances for the region's only Level II Trauma Center-an essential medical resource to the people of Austin and surrounding counties. In addition, The Shivers Cancer Center, which is part of Brackenridge Hospital, will receive a portion of the funds.
"Brackenridge Hospital has been the home of medical innovation in Central Texas for over a century," said Jesus Garza, COO, Seton Family of Hospitals. "Through the generous contributions of Guaranty Bank, the American-Statesman and the other sponsors, Brackenridge Hospital will continue investing in new technologies, medical research and academic medicine in order to meet the critical health care needs of our growing and aging population."
"The Statesman has focused on many community health care efforts and the wellness of its citizens," said Mike Laosa, publisher of the Austin American-Statesman. "This year, we are pleased to have Brackenridge Hospital as the beneficiary of the race. Together with the hospital and the race sponsors, we will help provide a state-of-the-art, innovative trauma center that will serve the critical needs of Central Texans for years to come."
Recently, eight trauma-critical care rooms opened at Brackenridge to help with the growth and demand for trauma and critical care services in Central Texas. That's on top of the 10 trauma-critical care rooms that opened last May for a total of 18 beds. Also under construction are 15 additional exam rooms in the former Children's Hospital Emergency Department.
The Regional Trauma Center at Brackenridge is one of nine designated Level II trauma centers in the state and the only Level II Trauma Center in this region serving as home base for Austin/Travis County EMS STAR Flight.
The Shivers Cancer Center, located at Brackenridge Hospital, offers a full continuum of care to breast cancer patients, who come from an 11-county area and are uninsured/underinsured. It provides medical, emotional, spiritual and even financial assistance to its patients. A health literacy program funded by the Statesman Cap. 10 commitments in 2008 will give physicians, staff and patients the knowledge and skills to better understand and manage health care.
Brackenridge Hospital is also the center of the growing presence of academic medicine in Central Texas. In addition to the more than 150 University of Texas Medical Branch residents already learning and practicing at Brackenridge, the campus is also the site of the innovative new Clinical Research Center at Brackenridge, where high-tech simulation training is occurring through a collaboration of Seton, the University of Texas, Austin Community College and other education organizations.
The Austin American-Statesman, presenting sponsor Guaranty Bank and other event sponsors will present a sponsorship proceeds check to Brackenridge Hospital at 8 a.m. the day of the race at the starting line on Congress Avenue at Barton Springs Road. To date, $125,000 has been committed to Brackenridge Hospital through 2008 sponsorship fees. Since race sponsorships became available in 1993, more than $1,750,000 has been given to 11 local non-profit organizations.
The Statesman Capitol 10,000 is the largest 10K in Texas and the fifth in the country. Registration for the 2008 event is available on statesman.com/cap10k.
For more race information, call 512-445-3596.
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Seton is proud to have four hospitals – the only hospitals in Central Texas - that have earned the