GlenOak Grad and Pitt AD Heather Lyke Leads COVID19 Fundraiser

Heather Lyke, athletics director at the University of Pittsburgh, and her family have joined Pitt football coach Pat Narduzzi, head men’s basketball coach Jeff Capel and head women’s basketball coach Lance White and their families in donating a combined $500,000 to the Center for Vaccine Research. The Penguins, Pirates and Steelers added donations of $100,000 apiece to match the effort.

“Nothing great in life is ever achieved alone,” Lyke, a GlenOak High School graduate, said in a statement. “Pitt Athletics is honored to join forces with the Penguins, Pirates and Steelers in support of the Center for Vaccine Research and its extraordinary researchers. April marked the 65th anniversary of Dr. Jonas Salk’s victory over polio, and it is apparent that funding for vaccine research remains as crucial as ever. David and I are proud to support CVR’s mission of making the world a healthier, safer place.”

In 2018, the Pro Football Hall of Fame and Gold Jacket Tony Dorsett honored the University of Pittsburgh with its Ford Hometown Hall of Famer recognition plaque and also donated $5,000 to the victims fund for the Tree of Life synagogue shooting.

“I’ve only been here less than two years, but I know what Tony Dorsett means to the University of Pittsburgh,” Lyke said.

“I don’t know if there’s a bigger legend who stands for Pitt than Tony. He will forever be among the greatest of the great at Pitt. Since I’ve been here, no name comes up more often than Tony’s.”