Partnership to kick off with Blue-Gold Scrimmage and March for Kindness
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – CSU Bakersfield Athletics and its multimedia rights holder, Learfield’s Roadrunner Sports Properties, announced Tuesday that Dignity Health Mercy and Memorial Hospitals (“Dignity Health”) has increased its commitment to become the exclusive health care partner of the Roadrunners. In front of a large group of CSUB student-athletes, coaches, staff, and fans, Dignity Health pledged continued support to help make CSUB Athletics stronger and healthier.
Tuesday’s announcement includes an extension of CSUB’s relationship with Dignity Health, which includes a significant annual sponsorship and provides team doctors for the Roadrunners, allowing for additional specialty-care and overall healthcare options for CSUB student-athletes. Dignity Health operates more than 30 hospitals in the western United States, including three in Bakersfield.
Jon Van Boening, the President/CEO of Bakersfield Memorial Hospital and Senior Vice President of Operations for Dignity Health Central California, spoke of the exciting renewal of the company’s relationship with CSUB: “Dignity Health Mercy and Memorial Hospitals are proud to be the exclusive healthcare provider of CSU Bakersfield Athletics.”
“CSUB is an outstanding organization and shares our strong commitment to service excellence and strengthening our community,” Van Boening continued. “We look forward to supporting the health and wellbeing of our local student-athletes and extending our mission of care through our relationships and our outreach to their fans.”
The partnership also extends numerous unique branding opportunities for the operator of Mercy and Memorial Hospitals in Bakersfield. A few of those elements have already been on display in the Icardo Center while a logo has been added to midcourt. Dignity Health is also now the official sponsor of CSUB’s postgame press conferences and its logo will be proudly displayed on the media backdrop for all athletics press conferences.
“Dignity Health has played an integral part in the growth of our athletics department and we are very grateful for this special partnership,” said CSUB Director of Athletics Kenneth “Ziggy” Siegfried. “I want to personally thank Jon Van Boening, Robin Mangarin-Scott, and the entire Dignity Health family for believing in the vision of CSUB Athletics and for their commitment to our student-athletes.”
One of the projects CSUB and Dignity Health will be partnering on this year is the inaugural March for Kindness, an event that will help foster a community of kindness. Robin Mangarin-Scott, Dignity Health’s Vice President of Strategic Marketing and Communications, talked about the importance of the event: “The #MarchForKindness and Rally at CSUB in October will bring together people from all walks of life to demonstrate that we can find common ground by sharing with each other what connects us, and that is our humanity. We invite everyone to gather your friends, family, faith groups, and coworkers as we walk together to create a kinder community.”
Dignity Health operates Mercy Hospital in downtown Bakersfield, Mercy Southwest, and Memorial Hospital along with the Lauren Small Children’s Center at Memorial Hospital and numerous other care centers around the central valley. The name is derived from the dignity that is woven into the fabric of the organization’s culture. Its mission, vision, and values were all formed out of the recognition of the inherent dignity of each person. The name “Dignity Health” represents their commitment to delivering excellent medical care to all, to advocating on behalf of the poor, and to partnering with others to improve the quality of life.