The Seattle Seahawks and the Virginia Mason Medical Center have partnered for nearly a decade to improve the health of adults and kids throughout the region.

The name of the new Seahawks headquarters and practice facility on the shore of Lake Washington – the Virginia Mason Athletic Center – speaks volumes about the depth of that relationship.

“The commitment to community and the spirit of caring for others are key building blocks for this new training center. We are proud to be affiliated with this project,” J. Michael Rona, president of Virginia Mason Medical Center, said when the partnership was announced.

Virginia Mason won’t have offices or a clinic at the new team headquarters.

But residents in the Renton area and the larger community will benefit from the services Virginia Mason provides, according to a medical center spokeswoman.

“This will absolutely benefit the Renton commuunity,” said Darlene Corkrum, senior vice president and chief marketing officer for Virginia Mason Medical Center.

And, she said, the chance to partner with the Seahawks in Renton is a “great opportunity for us.”

Virginia Mason was founded in 1920 in Seattle as an 80-bed hospital with six physician offices. It was named after the daughters of two of the founders, Dr. James Tate Mason and Dr. John M. Blackford.

Since then, it has grown to include nine clinics throughout the region, including in Bellevue and Issaquah, as well as its hospital in Seattle. Virginia Mason has formed a number of relationships with other organizations and professional groups to promote health and fitness, Corkrum said.

The medical center focuses on primary-care services, wellness screening and prevention, and, of course, hospitalization, she said. The center works with families to make good health choices for children through its “Nutrition and Fitness for Life” program.

With the Seahawks, Virginia Mason spearheads the Boeing Classic, a PGA Champions Tour golf event, which raises money for The Heart Institute at Virginia Mason. The tournament has raised nearly $1.4 million for heart care in the region since 2005.

Heart-risk assessment is critical because the disease is the No. 1 killer in the United States, Corkrum said. The money raised from the golf tournament has allowed Virginia Mason to extend the screening to many communities, she said.

The Seahawks also arrange for youthful patients to attend game-day activities. The team also has helped Virginia Mason promote its flu-shot campaign.

Dean A. Radford can be reached at 425-255-3484, ext. 5050, or at dean.radford@rentonreporter.com.