Award-Winning Team
A Spirit of Courage and Hope Becomes the Winning Ticket
Texas Tech Health El Paso’s Office of Institutional Advancement honored with two prestigious CASE awards
In fall 2023, El Paso community leaders and philanthropists Steve and Nancy Fox, along with daughters Ashley and Paige, announced a $25 million gift to Texas Tech Health El Paso, forever transforming cancer care on the U.S.-Mexico border. Texas Tech Health El Paso’s Office of Institutional Advancement organized a special event on campus for the announcement, aiming to make it as historic and memorable as the gift was.
With sentimental details woven into every aspect of the event planning and a video telling the Fox family story, the event was a success. Not only did it generate a positive community response, it earned two prestigious awards from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).
CASE awarded the Office of Institutional Advancement two 2024 Best of District IV Awards for Special Events: In-Person (Single-Day), and Videos: Fundraising and Stewardship (Long) for their exceptional work in fall 2023 celebrating the transformational generosity of the Fox family.
“Winning these prestigious CASE awards is a testament to the innovative ways our team can touch lives,” said Andrea Tawney, Ph.D., vice president for Institutional Advancement. “I’m extremely proud of our team and their dedication to serving both the university and our community.”
With a goal to provide the community more than a one-time announcement or celebration, the well-conceived campaign, Hope Begins Here, weaved the theme of hope through every part of the branding. Because it captured the essence of the Fox family legacy and inspiration that hope really does begin here, it has carried over to every aspect of Institutional Advancement’s marketing and communications messaging. And it will be present physically in the future Steve and Nancy Fox building, scheduled to break ground later this year. The event and the video not only honored the Fox family’s legacy but also sparked hope in our Borderplex community and beyond, introducing the Steve and Nancy Fox Cancer Center as a symbol of resilience and innovation in cancer care.
The Institutional Advancement team told the story of a meaningful investment inspired by Steve's journey as a cancer warrior, battling Stage 4 tongue and neck cancer over 22 years ago. Since then, Steve has relentlessly advocated for comprehensive cancer care in the community.
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death among U.S. Hispanics, but El Paso County, which is 83 percent Hispanic, is the state’s only urban area without a comprehensive cancer center. The Fox family’s gift will support clinical trials, research and recruitment of world-class physicians, nurses and researchers to the center. Their mission will be to provide equitable and personalized patient care to improve patient outcomes.
CASE is a global nonprofit association dedicated to helping educational institutions achieve excellence in alumni relations, communications, fundraising and marketing. CASE awards recognize outstanding achievements that inspire and advance education worldwide.
“These awards celebrate the spirit of generosity and hope that Steve and Nancy Fox have entrusted in our team and shared with our community,” Dr. Tawney said. “The recognition also highlights the hard work and creativity of our Institutional Advancement team, whose efforts brought this historic moment to life in a way that will inspire generations to come.”
Watch the inspirational and award-winning video, Steve and Nancy Fox: A Legacy of Hope.
About Texas Tech Health El Paso
Texas Tech Health El Paso is the only health sciences center on the U.S.-Mexico border and serves 108 counties in West Texas that have been historically underserved. It’s a designated Title V Hispanic-Serving Institution, preparing the next generation of health care heroes, 48% of whom identify as Hispanic and are often first-generation students.
Established as an independent university in 2013, Texas Tech Health El Paso is a proudly diverse and uniquely innovative destination for education and research.
With a mission of eliminating health care barriers and creating life-changing educational opportunities for Borderplex residents, Texas Tech Health El Paso has graduated over 2,400 doctors, nurses and researchers over the past decade, and will add dentists to its alumni beginning in 2025. For more information, visit ttuhscepimpact.org.