Pitt coaches, AD Lyke donate $500,000 to vaccine research

The families of four leaders in Pitt Athletics — football Coach Pat Narduzzi, men's basketball Coach Jeff Capel, women's basketball Coach Lance White and Director of Athletics Heather Lyke — have made a combined $500,000 donation to Pitt’s Center for Vaccine Research to help in the search for a COVID-19 vaccine. 

A donation of $100,000 each was added by the Pittsburgh’s three major professional sports franchises — the Penguins, the Pirates and the Steelers — for a total of $800,000 in support of the city’s “scientific champions.”
 
“Nothing great in life is ever achieved alone,” Lyke said in a news release “Pitt Athletics is honored to join forces with the Penguins, Pirates and Steelers in support of the Center for Vaccine Research and its extraordinary researchers. April marked the 65th anniversary of Dr. Jonas Salk’s victory over polio, and it is apparent that funding for vaccine research remains as crucial as ever. David and I are proud to support CVR’s mission of making the world a healthier, safer place.”
 
Center for Vaccine Research director Paul Duprex said they have been “stunned by the generosity and support the Pittsburgh community has shown for our center over the past few months. That's the legacy of Jonas Salk on this town. Pittsburgh understands the importance of vaccines, and we’re so grateful to be located here, where we can do our work to combat COVID-19 and other infectious diseases, knowing the community is behind us.”
 
The three coaches also issued statements of support for the scientists working on a vaccine:

Narduzzi: “We're facing this challenge together, and we will only overcome it by working together. My wife Donna and I are honored to support Pitt’s scientists, and we can’t wait to yell ‘Hail to Pitt!’ when they achieve victory with a vaccine.” 
 
Capel: “My wife Kanika and I are blessed to be in position to partner with colleagues here at Pitt to make this contribution to the Center for Vaccine Research. Dr. Duprex and his team are doing heroic work and we are proud to support their effort to end the COVID-19 pandemic.”
 
White: “Since our arrival two years ago, my wife Melanie and I have been so impressed by the University of Pittsburgh, its people and the great things they achieve every day. We are proud to be part of the Pitt community and that feeling is magnified when you see the incredible work being done at the Center for Vaccine Research.”

 — Susan Jones