Cox Communications Contributes $3 Million To TGen
Foundation
Largest one-time gift in Cox's history
Oct. 18, 2004
The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), announced
today that Cox Communications has donated $3 million to the TGen
Foundation in support of the Institute's research efforts. This
donation has earned Cox Communications the permanent designation as
a TGen Founding Principal.
TGen President and Scientific Director, Dr. Jeffrey Trent, was
joined by Senator John McCain, Governor Janet Napolitano, Phoenix
Mayor Phil Gordon, Chairman of the TGen Board of Directors, Jose
Cardenas, Cox-Arizona vice president and regional manager, Steve
Rizley, and more than 300 business and community leaders at today's
announcement.
"The mission of TGen is to help translate scientific discoveries into diagnostics, treatments and cures," said Dr. Trent. "Cox Communications clearly understands how corporate support will ultimately help us achieve our goals. We greatly appreciate the commitment, increased public awareness and understanding of TGen's mission shown by Steve Rizley and the entire Cox organization."
TGen's vision is a world where genomic discoveries can be rapidly translated to the diagnosis and treatment of disease in a manner tailored to the individual. The recent advances in genomics, biotechnology, imaging, and computer science have begun a paradigm shift within the practice of medicine. This shift allows physicians to take advantage of an individual's genetic makeup to treat the causes of disease, not merely the symptoms, and enable them to better predict how patients may respond to a particular therapy prior to its introduction.
TGen President and Scientific Director, Dr. Jeffrey Trent
(left), accepts the $3 million check from Cox-Arizona vice
president and regional manager, Steve Rizley. The contribution is
the largest one-time gift in Cox's history and will support
research for improving the health of all by targeting new
treatments, therapies and cures for such diseases as melanoma,
pancreatic cancer, brain tumors and diabetes.
Cox Communications views the announcement, which took place at
TGen's temporary laboratories in Tempe, as an invitation to other
Arizona businesses to step up and contribute to the non-profit
scientific research institute.
"TGen's patient-centered approach is built on a foundation of world-class scientific expertise and novel research program, and we at Cox are proud to both support and be part of that mission," said Rizley. "The scientific discoveries that this and other donations support will have a positive impact on patients and families everywhere. Cox Communications can think of no better investment to make in Arizona's or the world's future."
Immediately following the announcement, attendees at the event were taken on a laboratory tour to provide them with an increased understanding of the scope and depth of TGen's research.
The $3 million donation to TGen marks the largest one-time gift in Cox's history. Cox Communications-Arizona supports local organizations that work to better the lives of Arizonans. Last year, Cox Charities donated $7 million to support non-profit organizations in Arizona.
The TGen Foundation, formed in July, is governed by a 12-member board and charged with raising funds to support TGen and its mission. Making a donation to the Foundation funds research for improving the health of all by targeting new treatments, therapies and cures for such diseases as melanoma, pancreatic cancer, brain tumors and diabetes.
TGen's permanent facility is currently under construction downtown and is slated to open its doors in early December.
About TGen
TGen is a not-for-profit research institute whose primary mission
is to make and translate genomic discoveries into advances in human
health. Translational genomics research employs innovative advances
arising from the Human Genome Project and applies them to the
development of diagnostics, prognostics, and therapies for cancer,
neurological disorders, diabetes and other complex diseases.
About Cox-Arizona
Cox Communications, the nation's third largest cable television
provider, is a multi-service broadband communications company
serving over 1.7 million residential and business service
subscribers in Phoenix and Southern Arizona. A service subscriber
measures an individual service purchased by a customer. In the
Phoenix area, Cox serves more than 1.5 million service subscribers
in 23 communities. In Southern Arizona, Cox serves nearly 250,000
service subscribers in 14 communities. Cox's 15,000-mile hybrid
fiber coaxial cable network throughout Phoenix and Southern
Arizona, provides homes and businesses digital television,
high-speed Internet access and telephone service. Cox is owned and
operated by Atlanta-based Cox Communications, Inc., (NYSE: COX),
which serves approximately 6.6 million customers nationwide,
including 6.3 million basic cable subscribers. For two consecutive
years, Cox Digital Telephone received highest honors from J.D.
Power and Associates in Local Residential Telephone Customer
Satisfaction in the Western region (2003-2004). It also ranked #1
in Customer Satisfaction for Bundled Residential Long Distance
Telephone Services in a National J.D. Power and Associates Study.
Statewide, Cox contributes more than $7 million annually in cash
and in-kind contributions to community-based organizations,
including local youth and education programs. Additional
information about Cox in Phoenix is available at www.cox.com/phoenix, and Cox in Southern
Arizona at www.cox.com/tucson.
