The gift, from former Speed School alumni fellow Scott McReynolds ’86 and his wife Jennifer ’84, also represents the kickoff to Raise Some L, UofL’s annual day of giving.

Beginning at 6:02 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 18, and continuing through midnight, Wednesday, Oct. 19, Raise Some L runs for 1,798 minutes in honor of UofL’s founding year. The 30-hour drive, traditionally held during Homecoming Week, is a chance for the Cardinal Community to support students, research and campus initiatives that help build a better world.

The opportunities created by the gift will help underprivileged youth gain critical skills to tackle the world’s problems. The $450,000 donation will provide last dollar scholarships, tutoring and bridge programming, Robotics Research Fellowships within the Louisville Automation and Robotics Research Institute (LARRI), summer research experiences for Central High School students at LARRI and an immersive learning experience trip to Boston, Massachusetts, the hub of robotics research and innovation.

“Gifts like these are inspiring and life-changing,” Interim President Lori Stewart Gonzalez said. “This generous support and other funds raised during our annual day of giving will help fuel the success of our students, advance our research and innovation initiatives and improve our community.”

There have also been several sizable donations that have already been pledged in advance of the day including:  

• Three gifts to the School of Medicine designated for research in the amounts of $1 million, $400,000 and $100,000 from anonymous donors
• $50,000 gift to the Community Band in the School of Music from an anonymous donor
• $33,675 gift to the Breonna Taylor Memorial Scholarship Endowment by Jill Whitten in memory of her parents Ann W. and Donald J. Roth
• $25,000 gift to establish the Karlynn BrintzenhofeSzoc “Scholars in Healthcare Social Work” Scholarship, funded by Ronald Z. Szoc and Karlynn BrintzenhofeSzoc
• $15,000 challenge match that will support various areas across the university by Hank and Rebecca Conn
• $10,000 gift to the UofL Health Brown Cancer Center by Jason Chesney
• $10,000 match gift for the LGBTQ Center by Steve Bass

“UofL’s Day of Giving Campaign is a great way to support the continued success of the Cardinal community by making a gift to an area that inspires you,” Interim Vice President for Advancement Julie Dials said. “This year’s Day of Giving is especially critical as we navigate challenging times to help create thriving futures for our students.”

Raise Some L 2022 begins at 6:02 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 18 and runs through midnight, Wednesday, Oct. 19. Interested participants can make a gift to any area of the university at .

In addition to online giving, in-person donations may be made at the Raise Some L Belknap Campus and Health Sciences Campus headquarters from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 19.

The Student Organization for Alumni Relations will be stationed at Raise Some L headquarters at the quads of both campuses with snacks, activities and additional information.  Share the word about Raise Some L by using #RaiseSomeL.

For information on other UofL Homecoming Week events, please visit the .

The $500,000 gift to the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at the UofL School of Medicine establishes the James Ryan Fund for Cardiovascular Biomarker Research. Ryan pledged the gift before he passed away at age 81 in 2018.

“Thanks to Jim, we can help physicians everywhere in diagnosing what is one of the most common causes of death in the world,” DeFilippis said. “He was always interested in others and what their dreams were, their goals in life, their happiness and how he could help.”

The fund will support annual operating expenses for the research led by DeFilippis, who is director of Cardiovascular Disease Prevention and an associate professor in cardiovascular medicine at UofL. DeFilippis is an expert in cardiovascular diseases and cardiac intensive care. His research focuses on cardiovascular risk prediction and the identification of biomarkers that will allow physicians to diagnose the cause of different types of heart attacks, also called myocardial infarction.

A heart attack is death of heart muscle. There are many causes, including the most well-recognized that occurs when one of the heart’s coronary arteries is suddenly blocked or has very slow blood flow secondary to the formation of a blood clot.

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease progresses over time, allowing time for screening and early detection. Advances in biomarker research and other developments have led to more sensitive screening methods and a greater emphasis on early detection and diagnosis.

“We’re working to develop biomarkers that will allow clinicians to differentiate among the many different types of heart attacks that can occur,” DeFilippis said. “Not all are the same, and even in the medical community that’s not always given much thought. But if we can differentiate, it will help us better treat patients, allowing us to limit or stop heart damage.”

A biomarker is a biological characteristic that can be measured and evaluated as an indicator of normal biological or pathological processes or a response to a therapeutic intervention. Examples include patterns of gene expression, levels of a particular protein in body fluids or changes in electrical activity in the heart.

Ryan, an active philanthropist and retired insurance executive, suffered from a heart condition himself. A native of Pittsburgh who graduated from UofL and lived most of his life in Louisville, he was on a quest to ensure his estate went to good use. He and DeFilippis forged a friendship through their activities with the American Heart Association. He visited DeFilippis’ lab within the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine several times, even bringing a group of friends.

“He was really involved – he was more than a donor,” DeFilippis said. “He gave advice and offered assistance in business, enabling us to partner with industry to bring our discoveries to market. We really enjoyed his company. The two of us went to lunch several times and talked about lots of things – the lab, his struggles with congestive heart failure and his bucket list. He had a great sense of humor.

“He was an extraordinarily happy man with a deep voice that was very distinctive,” DeFilippis said. “We will certainly miss his presence and his inspiring words about the work we were doing. We take it as a tremendous compliment that he chose to donate to us. Jim was looking for a quality program, great ideas and things that really make sense to improve the health of world.

DeFilippis and one of his colleagues, Patrick Trainor, PhD, recently were invited editorialists for a new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine that indicates current risk calculators for heart attack and stroke can sometimes be wrong, significantly overestimating some people’s risk while underestimating others’ risk. As a result, many people may be unnecessarily taking medication to control risk factors such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure, and others may not be getting enough treatment. The researchers developed a new risk calculation method with a more sophisticated statistical model and newer population data, suggesting it could be more accurate.

Each year during Santa’s busy season, UofL employees and students step up their philanthropic efforts to help those in need throughout the community, essentially taking on the role of elves.

They host toy drives and winter coat drives, they feed the homeless and adopt families. And they do so with bells on because ‘tis the season, after all.

To gauge how many campaigns are underway throughout the university seems a near-impossible task. The projects are facilitated by schools, centers, student groups and even individual classrooms. For example, Laura McKinney, from the School of Dentistry, estimates there are at least four different drives at that school alone, such as the Dental Hygiene Class of 2017’s collection drive for children in need at CASA and the National Court Appointed Special Advocate Association. CASA supports and promotes court-appointed volunteer advocacy for abused or neglected children.

The biggest effort at that school is the Giving Tree, started by USLD staff member Gene Esterle nearly two decades ago. The Giving Tree, located in the school’s lecture room hallway on the first floor, is where faculty, staff and students can donate items needed by local homeless children. Items collected go to Feed the City, which provides food and clothes for needy families in Louisville and Southern Indiana.

“I knew there was a need for people in need, including those who are children. So we got to talking to Larry Coleman (pastor and executive director) and he said if we could get some mittens or toboggans, he’d love to have them. So we did just that. We put up the first tree and the students decorated it with what they were giving – hats, scarves, mittens. We’ve been doing it since,” Esterle said. “The students, faculty and staff and everyone here at dental school go out of their way to participate. It reminds us that it’s not about getting, it’s about giving. I don’t think they’d be in this profession if they didn’t have giving hearts.”

Other examples of UofL’s holiday benevolence include: 

• UofL’s Staff Senate, led by the efforts of the Staff Morale and Community Outreach Committee, volunteered for a Adopt-A-Meal. The volunteers cooked and served dinner to the 36 families who are staying at the Ronald McDonald House while their kids receive treatment at Norton’s Children’s Hospital. The Ronald McDonald House is an approved UofL community service opportunity through the office of Community Engagement. Ellie Fridell, chair of the SMCO committee, said more than $275 worth of food was donated and more than 50 service hours were provided for the project.

Senator Ruby Keith said many of these children are being served by UofL physicians, which was a factor in choosing the Ronald McDonald House as a benefactor.

“If we can give these families just a little bit of comfort and compassion through these trying times, then we have done a good deed. It’s not about the kudos or the recognition, this is about giving back to our community,” added Senator Leslie Cooper.

• The Brandeis School of Law is once again collecting toys for the Louisville Bar Association’s toy drive with a focus on older children, who are not often selected for angel tree gifts. This is the 23^rd year for the toy drive and the Brandeis School of Law has been involved for several years. Harlan Scholars help pick up the toys and the law school donates toys.

“At the Brandeis School of Law, being an engaged member of the community is central to our mission. Participating in the Louisville Bar Association’s annual toy drive is a concrete way to show that we care about local families. We’re proud to carry on Justice Louis Brandeis’ legacy of public service,” said Brandeis Dean Susan Duncan.

• The UofL Women’s Center Student Parent Association held its 2nd annual Angel Tree Program, where participants selected angels of UofL student-parents to purchase items for.

• Throughout December and for the third year, the University of Louisville Physicians is sponsoring a Dare To Care Food Drive. Last year’s effort raised more than three truckloads of food for local families.

• The School of Public Health and Information collects items for Home of the Innocents, a nonprofit shelter and pediatric convalescent center. Faculty, staff and students get a name and shop for youths at the home, similar to the Angel Tree. Also, SPHIS’ Kentucky Public Health Association plans to host a coat drive or food drive in January, as well as a community service event that month.

• The Arts & Sciences Dean’s Office is supporting giving day at Slaughter Elementary through donations. Giving Day offers every student at Slaughter the opportunity to go “shopping” in the “Giving Store” for special gifts for family members. After selecting the gifts, the students return to their classrooms for a wrapping party.

Slaughter has a high poverty rate and one of the highest percentages of ESL students in Jefferson County. Past donations have included jewelry, clothes, kitchen items, sports equipment, games, small electronics, books and more.

• UofL’s LGBT Center, Student Recreation Center, Women’s Center, School of Dentistry, Olga S. Peers Student-Athlete Center and Cultural Center have been busy collecting items for local shelters for the Give Some PEACC Donation Drive, sponsored by the PEACC Center. Items collected included diapers, gift cards and hygiene products.

• Earlier this month, the Latin American and Latino Studies Club donated three car loads of winter coats, hats, scarves, gloves, blankets, toys and other household items to the Kentucky Refugee Ministries as part of its Winter Drive. 

• The UofL School of Nursing staff held a toy drive for Norton Children’s Hospital earlier this month. According to Emily Nation, assistant to the dean, the staff discussed potential ways to give back to the community during a meeting held earlier in the semester. Several philanthropic options were brought to the table and faculty were invited to join in on the efforts.

“We decided on a holiday toy drive for Norton Children’s Hospital because we hoped to spread some holiday cheer to children and their families who are going through a difficult time. This is our first holiday toy drive as a school, but we hope to continue the tradition of giving back in years to come,” Nation said.

• UofL’s Cardiovascular Innovation Institute is collecting items for the homeless, specifically for Exit 0, which serves dinner and collects supplies for the homeless population.

• The House Staff Council, an organization of medical residents, is conducting a toy drive for Toys for Tots. Donations are made by residents, staff, undergraduate students and faculty of the UofL School of Medicine. Last year they collected 570 toys and this year they collected 886 toys.

There is a group of women who crochet holiday garments for our preemie babies in UofL’s NICU. Because the babies are so small, it’s practically impossible for parents to find special clothes for them. At least one of the group’s members and Santa Claus will visit the NICU on Dec. 19 to present the clothes and visit with the families. More information will be available after their visit.

These charitable initiatives make up a cross section of so many more efforts that have been facilitated by UofL’s people. They also underscore the university’s broader objective to focus on community engagement.

“It’s no coincidence that during this season of giving, UofL faculty, staff and students are continuing engagement efforts and partnering with organizations in our community to help make the season a little bit brighter,” said Dr. Ralph Fitzpatrick, AVP for Community Engagement. “The opportunity to engage our university community in outreach efforts such as food, coat and toy drives not only provides teachable moments but also reinforces our core values focused around empathy and compassion.”