The Power of Generosity
By Dominique A. Salas, Ph.D.
GECU’s Legacy Takes Flight
Long began her career at GECU as a clerk before rising through the ranks to lead the organization. During her tenure, GECU pledged $10 million in 2025 toward construction of the Fox Cancer Center’s 34,818-square-foot GECU Women’s Health Wing, expanding specialized care for women across the region.
Now under Rascón’s leadership, GECU and the GECU Foundation continue to support education, scholarships and healthcare across the West Texas region. That commitment is enhancing the future of Texas Tech Health El Paso.
As the Fox Cancer Center takes shape, Texas Tech Health El Paso is privileged to count GECU and the GECU Foundation as partners in bringing care close to home. Over the past year, GECU and the GECU Foundation have pledged over $10 million in support of the cancer center, in addition to a recent $500,000 gift toward the patient-centered GECU Foundation Orthopedic Reception Area.
Former President and CEO of GECU Crystal Long knows a great deal about serving the community and establishing a legacy. Now retired, she passes that torch to Alex Rascón, a 28-year GECU veteran, who is poised to continue that tradition.
White Coats, Lasting Support
For many medical students, scholarship support is the difference between delaying a dream and fully pursuing the calling to become a physician. El Pasoans Dionicio “Manny” Alvarez, M.D., and his wife, Alice, understand the reality, and are committed to changing it for the future healthcare of the Borderplex.
“When I met the Alvarez family as a student, I was taken aback by how kind they were,” she said. “They continue to inspire those around them and fuel our drive as we work with patients and improve patient care here in El Paso.”
The Alvarez family’s cumulative support of medical students now exceeds $1.2 million.
“Our gift is a promise: We will stand beside you as you learn, serve and lead the Borderplex,” said Dr. Alvarez.
For students, the promise can be felt after the White Coat Ceremony. Cynthia Maldonado, M.D., was one of the Foster School of Medicine students who received a scholarship created by Dr. Alvarez and Alice.
“We want El Paso’s next healthcare heroes to start with confidence, not debt,” said Dr. Alvarez.
A nephrologist with over 40 years of experience practicing in El Paso, Dr. Alvarez has seen how financial barriers can discourage students who have talent, dedication and ambition to serve.
Their commitment deepened in November 2025, when the Alvarezes gathered with 150 scholarship recipients at the annual Season of Thanks luncheon to announce a $250,000 gift. Matched dollar for dollar by the university, the gift will generate $500,000 in new scholarships for medical students.
The couple has supported medical students at the start of their journey by sponsoring white coats since 2018 and by establishing scholarships. In 2020, they created one of the largest endowments supporting medical students at Texas Tech Health El Paso: the Dionicio and Alice Alvarez Medical Student Scholarship.
Dr. Dionicio “Manny” and Alice Alvarez were honored during a special celebration, recognizing their $250,000 gift, creating more opportunities through their Dionicio and Alice Alvarez Medical Student Scholarship. The event brought together students, family, friends and university leaders to celebrate their enduring investment in the next generation of physicians.
Preparing Nurses to Strengthen Communities
Giving back has always been second nature to Ed and Margie Escudero. For Margie, a former nurse and proud alumna of the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Nursing in Lubbock, investing in the next generation of nurses was a natural extension of a lifetime of caring.
At the Hunt School of Nursing’s September 2025 White Coat Ceremony, the Escudero family extended that commitment from future nurses to future patients with a $250,000 gift.
The gift will support a welcoming space in the Fox Cancer Center called the Margie and Ed Escudero Medical Oncology Clinic Reception area. Margie had the privilege of helping place white coats on nursing students during the ceremony.
In 2020, the couple established the Ed and Margie Escudero Endowed Nursing Scholarship with $20,000, matched 1-to-1 by the President’s Excellence Fund.
“Supporting both the Hunt School of Nursing and the Fox Cancer Center is our way of ensuring families here have access to the care and compassion they deserve,” Ed said.
Their impact continues after graduation. With 90% of Hunt School of Nursing students remaining in the Borderplex, the Escuderos’ support prepares nurses to deliver world-class, culturally competent care for our residents.
Ed and Margie Escudero were honored during a special celebration recognizing their support of the Hunt School of Nursing and the Fox Cancer Center. The event reflected their enduring commitment to educating future nurses and expanding compassionate patient care.
Honoring a Final Act of Service
This spring, students discovered a new place for reflection on campus: the Gary Petz Memorial Garden, nestled among blooming palo verde trees.
The garden honors those who donated their bodies to the university’s Willed Body Program, a profound and selfless act that provides medical students with their foundational understanding of medicine. The peaceful spot was named after Gary Petz, a nurse practitioner who served patients for over 30 years at the Veteran Affairs Hospital of El Paso.
The memorial was made possible in part by Petz’s neighbor, Patricia Caracena, who served as his caregiver as his Alzheimer’s disease progressed. As the administrator of Petz’s affairs and estate, Caracena reached out to the university after his passing to donate $25,000 in his honor.