UTSA’s Be Bold Campaign brought together over 60,000 donors and 110,000 UTSA alumni to support student success, groundbreaking research and the university’s expanding impact across San Antonio and the state.
Here’s a look at the major donors who helped push the $500 million fundraising campaign across the goal line two years ahead of schedule. They include:
The Malú and Carlos Alvarez Family
Be Bold Campaign Co-Chair Carlos Alvarez was a prominent San Antonio businessman, philanthropist and founder of The Gambrinus Company. Alvarez and his family have committed a significant amount of funding to UTSA, supporting student success, graduate fellowships, faculty excellence and institutional growth.
In 2021, Alvarez and his wife, Malú, gave a $20 million gift to name the Carlos Alvarez College of Business — the first business college in the UT System to carry the name of a Latino and the first named college in university history.
The Dawson Family
After more than two decades as a dedicated supporter of UTSA, Sam Dawson served as chair of the Be Bold Campaign Leadership Council, working with UTSA President Taylor Eighmy and a council comprised of more than 40 community leaders and donors to lead the university’s largest fundraising campaign in history.
Sam’s brother Gene Dawson also has been instrumental in advancing UTSA’s growth, serving as former president of the Roadrunner Athletics Foundation for more than a decade and playing a key role in supporting the Bold Champions Athletics Campaign.
The brothers have supported the university through the Triple Dawson Family Foundation, which has made transformative contributions to UTSA, including bringing to life initiatives such as the Roadrunner Athletics Center of Excellence and the Student Success Center in the Margie and Bill Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design.
The Dawson family’s impact extends even further through its family-owned company, Pape-Dawson Engineers, which actively recruits UTSA graduates.
Margie and Bill Klesse
Bill Klesse, a former chairman and CEO of the petroleum refining company Valero, helped launch UTSA’s chemical engineering program and continues to open doors for students through board leadership and mentorship. His wife, Margie, is a longtime civic volunteer.
Together, they founded the Klesse Foundation to support scientific, educational, cultural, religious and other charitable organizations.
The couple helped establish the Diamond Shamrock Legacy Endowed Scholarship within the UTSA College of Engineering and Integrated Design and, in 2017, the foundation donated $1 million to establish the Klesse Unit Operations Laboratory at UTSA, creating a new chemical engineering program.
In 2022, the Klesses made a landmark $20 million gift that named the Margie and Bill Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design.
Nancy Kudla ’87 and Frank Kudla ’85
Nancy Kudla ’87 served as the Be Bold Campaign Leadership Council co-chair. Kudla graduated from the first class to include women at the Air Force Academy in 1980 and went on to receive her MBA from UTSA in 1987.
Today, she works with start-up companies and runs the Kudla Family Foundation with her husband, Frank Kudla ’85.
In 2011, they created the Nancy and Frank Kudla Endowed Fellowship in Cybersecurity through their Family Foundation. In 2022, they committed another $700,000 to their Fellowship and doubled the value of their endowment through the Alvarez Research Challenge, established by Carlos Alvarez, to match funds and increase their endowment by more than $1 million.
Harvey E. Najim
Philanthropist and entrepreneur Harvey Najim has contributed more than $15 million to UTSA, transforming access to experiential learning, career preparation and essential resources.
His support established the Najim Center for Innovation and Career Advancement at the Main Campus and Downtown campuses, expanded programming in the Carlos Alvarez College of Business, and is helping to combat food insecurity through significant support of the Roadrunner Pantry. Najim also is a dedicated supporter of UTSA Athletics.
Graham Weston
San Antonio entrepreneur, developer and philanthropist Graham Weston served as the Be Bold campaign co-chair, contributing to the effort through personal giving and his 80|20 Foundation.
Weston’s gift to UTSA was significant, as it marked the first major contribution to the campaign, endorsing Eighmy’s vision for the university and the growth of the Downtown Campus.
His support to establish the School of Data Science at San Pedro I helped lay the foundation for UTSA’s downtown expansion and growing role in San Antonio’s tech ecosystem. Weston also helped launch the Open Cloud Institute and has supported faculty, student research and the UTSA Alumni Association.
