Virginia Commonwealth University’s Department of Intercollegiate Athletics has received the largest corporate partnership gift in its history.Health Diagnostic Laboratory, Inc. (HDL, Inc.), located in the Virginia Biotechnoloyg Park, has agreed to a $4 million partnership to support the VCU Department of Athletics and its future capital projects.

“The progress of a national research university is accelerated by strong partners with big ideas and a commitment to excellence in every way,” said Michael Rao, president of VCU and the VCU Health System. “For Virginia Commonwealth University, one of those best partners is Health Diagnostic Laboratory, an innovative corporation
that shares our focus of improving human health and the human experience.”

The partnership will encompass the entire facility footprint for Athletics in RVA.
Each athletics facility will fall under the umbrella of the “HDL, Inc. Athletic Village” and
have premier street signage. Among the facilities in the HDL, Inc. Athletic Village will be
the Stuart C. Siegel Center, planned VCU Basketball Complex, Sports Backers Stadium,
Thalhimer Tennis Center, and Cary Street Gym.

“The HDL and VCU partnership goes beyond just the funding of a premier athletic
facility, and by the promotion of our company within VCU it is our hope that we keep
math and science jobs in Virginia – and hopefully here in Richmond at HDL,” said Tonya
Mallory, HDL, Inc., President, CEO and Co-founder.

“Health Diagnostic Laboratory places an enormous value on saving lives and
preventing disease through advanced testing, lifestyle change, and the type of active
living that is enhanced by the athletic village.”

Mallory is no stranger to making bold moves in RVA in recent years. So far in
2013 she has moved 650-plus employees into Phase I of the lab’s expansion project in
the Virginia Biotechnology Research Park and Phase II is now underway. When
completed, the new 283,000-square-foot complex will be used to help the medical
community beat cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and related disease.

The partnership will include a coordinated effort by VCU Athletics, VCU
Recreational Sports, and HDL, Inc. to create a program that will promote wellness
initiatives within the facility and an inner-city youth wellness program featuring VCU
student-athletes engaging with community members to promote health and wellness in
neighborhoods around the athletic village.

“We share a common passion – improving the lives of people in Richmond – and
that passion makes our partnership a natural fit. The HDL Athletic Village at VCU will
brand our current facilities under one umbrella and give us continuity as we grow,” said
VCU Director of Athletics Ed McLaughlin.