Pitt coaches donate $500,000 for covid-19 vaccine research; Pirates, Penguins, Steelers add pledge of $300,000

Three Pitt coaches, athletic director Heather Lyke and their families are leading an effort to pledge $800,000 in support of the University of Pittsburgh’s Center for Vaccine Research, which is attempting to create a vaccine for the virus that causes covid-19.

Coaches Pat Narduzzi (football), Jeff Capel (men’s basketball) and Lance White (women’s basketball), as well as Lyke, and their families donated $500,000. The Pirates, Penguins and Steelers joined them, contributing $100,000 each.

“Nothing great in life is ever achieved alone,” Lyke said in a statement. “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.”

CVR director Paul Duprex said his group was “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,” Duprex said. “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.”

Narduzzi said the challenge of finding a vaccine is a team effort.

“We’re facing this challenge together, and we will only overcome it by working together,” he said. “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.”

“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,” Capel said. “Dr. Duprex and his team are doing heroic work and we are proud to support their effort to end the covid-19 pandemic.”

Added 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.

“It’s an honor to support Pitt’s researchers as they continue to make strides in this fight against covid-19.”