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Two of the state’s longest-standing Catholic institutions came together Nov. 7 as Catholic High School in Little Rock officially named its new all-weather track in honor of St. Vincent Health System. Dignitaries from both institutions were on hand for dedication ceremonies held in conjunction with an all-school pep rally.
Citing a seven-year partnership between the state’s largest Catholic health care institution and the state’s largest Catholic high school — through which St. Vincent provides CHS athletic training and sports medicine services, as well as volunteer opportunities for students — principal Steve Straessle said from the dais, “We can’t think of anybody else that we want involved in this other than St Vincent’s Health System.
“They did what it took to help us build this track and for that we are eternally grateful,” Straessle told the crowd. “And as a sign of our lasting appreciation to St Vincent’s we are naming the track the St Vincent Track at Catholic High School.”
Peter Banko, St. Vincent Health System president and CEO, cut the ribbon, “on behalf of 3,000 employees, 700 doctors, countless volunteers, our sponsor, Catholic Health Initiatives and our founders, the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth,” he said.
The new eight-lane all-weather track, completed Oct. 10, encircles Roy Davis Field and is part of the ongoing renovations and improvements funded by the Catholic High Capital Campaign, launched in August 2012.
Banko declined to disclose details of St. Vincent’s financial contribution to the track project after the ribbon cutting, saying only that the gift was “a very significant investment,” and noted the quality of the finished product reflected that.
“(It’s) first class, but Catholic High always does everything first class, so we didn’t expect anything less,” said Banko, whose oldest son Daniel graduated from CHS in May.
While St. Vincent maintains sponsorships and other marketing relationships with several entities, this is the first time the health system has put its name on a facility, Banko said. He told Arkansas Catholic the decision to fund construction of the track specifically fit with the medical system’s commitment to health and wellness in the community.
“We explored a lot of different opportunities with Mr. Straessle, but we thought the track was a good fit,” Banko, a member of Christ the King Church in Little Rock, said. “We did some exploration internally and thought it was a good fit for us for both health and wellness.”
In addition to having built the track, St. Vincent will also put it to good use as employees of the nearby flagship hospital will have access to the facility as part of St. Vincent’s ongoing “Healthy Spirit” employee wellness initiative.
“We’re really trying to promote health and wellness. Health care costs increase but the easiest way to decrease them is by keeping healthy, so this is part of that overall effort,” he said. “We’re a neighbor right down the street so this gives our employees an opportunity to find a place to run or jog or walk as well.”
The ribbon-cutting culminated what has been a brisk fall of headlines for both entities. Catholic High received the largest gift in its history, a combined $10 million from NFL executives Jerry Jones of Dallas and John York of San Francisco and an anonymous alum, to boost the capital campaign Oct. 10. St. Vincent celebrated its 125th anniversary Oct. 9 and two days later announced its parent organization, Denver-based Catholic Health Initiatives, had signed a non-binding letter of intent to buy Mercy Hospital Hot Springs.
Banko said one of the appealing things about having the St. Vincent name on the facility is the potential exposure it gives to an audience wider than just Catholic High athletes and fans or Little Rock residents, for that matter.
“We like to have our name out there,” he said. “This is going to be a place where all the parochial schools play football and track and it will be, I’m sure, a mecca for state events as well. We wanted to get our name out there around the state that we’re the place for health care.”
