Nebraska Athletics and Saint Elizabeth Enter into Corporate Partnership Agreement

LINCOLN, Neb. ? The University of Nebraska Athletic Department is pleased to announce that Saint Elizabeth Regional Medical Center will become a premier corporate sponsor of Husker Athletics.

 Receiving approval of the Nebraska Board of Regents at its Jan. 15 meeting, the agreement will span five years and will provide the Nebraska Athletic Department with a total of more than $1 million in sponsorship revenue over the five-year period. While the most visible components of the Saint Elizabeth sponsorship agreement will be display advertising and name recognition in Memorial Stadium and the Bob Devaney Sports Center, Saint Elizabeth will also receive licensing rights.  The majority of the partnership monies received will provide significant new revenue that will be utilized for operational expenses of the athletic department. A portion will also help fund scholarships for Nebraska’s student-athletes, support women’s athletics and benefit the Huskers’ widely successful Olympic sports.

“Saint Elizabeth Regional Medical Center is recognized as a premier hospital in this region,” Associate Athletic Director Paul Miles said. “As we pursue championships in all our sports, the support provided by Saint Elizabeth will add significant value to the athletic department. We are excited about this partnership and look forward to our future relationship with Saint Elizabeth.”

 The signing of the sponsorship will provide a total of $1.1 million in revenue to the athletic department beginning in 2005 and continuing through 2010.

Saint Elizabeth Regional Medical Center, having just completed a major hospital expansion on its campus, is known for its outstanding work in orthopedic care. Saint Elizabeth cares for well over 4,000 orthopedic patients per year. Its orthopedic services include sports medicine, comprehensive physical therapy, joint replacements, spine surgery and other premier orthopedic surgical procedures. In addition, Saint Elizabeth continues it's long-standing tradition of providing excellent surgical, cardiology, neurosurgical, burn, and perinatal services. Saint Elizabeth serves not only Lincoln and the surrounding region, but also provides care to patients from across the state of Nebraska.

 “The University of Nebraska and Saint Elizabeth Regional Medical Center, together, will forge a long-standing and mutually beneficial relationship," President Bob Lanik said.  “ We respect and admire the efforts of the Nebraska Athletic Department in training young people to become healthy, productive citizens of our society. We are happy to be a part of that effort.”

Saint Elizabeth has a mission of bringing quality health care to the citizens of Nebraska. Its array of services includes comprehensive inpatient and out-patient services. In addition Saint Elizabeth brings over 70 primary care and emergency medicine physicians to people in Lincoln, Grand Island and Fremont through the Saint Elizabeth Physician Network. It also has a long-standing occupational health service providing executive physicals, screenings and urgent care.

For more information or to arrange interviews, contact Nebraska Director of Communications Chris Anderson at (402) 472-7771 or 540-0276.