EL PASO, TX – (August 3, 2007) – Woody L. Hunt, Chairman of Hunt Family Foundation, and Marcus J. Hunt,
the Foundation’s President, announced today a matching grant commitment in the total amount of $500,000 to
the Medical Center of the Americas Foundation in El Paso. The matching grant commitment is tied to the
planning and development of the new Medical Center of the Americas’ complex, an initiative to create an
integrated campus of medical facilities surrounding the new Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in El
Paso and Thomason Hospital.
“This is a significant commitment to our ongoing efforts to promote strategic economic development in the
region,” said Woody Hunt. “We are pleased to make this matching grant commitment to MCA for what we feel
is a critically-important endeavor that has the potential to touch all El Pasoans.” Hunt serves as one of the
founders of the MCA Foundation, and is also serving as its first Chairman.
Marcus Hunt stressed that these funds are intended as a matching commitment to the MCA Foundation. “I hope
this grant will jump-start the fundraising process and keep the momentum going as the MCA works to establish
itself. The Hunt Family Foundation believes the MCA has the potential to transform healthcare and medical
research for our region, and the economic impact also stands to be profound and long lasting. The MCA will
only succeed if it can garner the support of the community. This matching grant signifies our commitment to that
success and challenges the MCA to seek out and confirm that support.”
Emma Schwartz, MCA Executive Director, said the Hunt grant will be a premier catalyst to launching
county-wide fundraising efforts. “We have already spoken to many in the community who have a great interest
in the MCA and a belief in what we’re trying to accomplish,” she said. “The Hunt Family Foundation grant
gives our efforts, which are just in infancy, a higher credibility. When your giving dollar is being matched by
another dollar, it reflects a legitimate commitment. And we are dedicated to having a world-class border health
center for our region.”
The Hunt Family Foundation was established in 1987 by Woody and Gayle Hunt. The foundation supports
non-profit and charitable initiatives that focus on El Paso and surrounding areas. According to Marcus Hunt,
“This grant is another component of the Foundation’s strategy to positively impact and assist border healthcare and health research as economic drivers for the region.”
Previously, the Hunt Family Foundation granted $1.85 million to the Texas Tech University Medical School in
El Paso. The matching grant to MCA brings the Foundation’s total gifts and commitments related to the Medical
Center of the Americas border healthcare and health research initiatives to $2.35 million.