Preliminary results from UT San Antonio Giving Day show that the university has already surpassed its $700,000 goal, raising more than $836,000 through 2,541 donors in the first year of a unified campaign supporting The University of Texas at San Antonio and its academic health center, UT Health San Antonio. Final totals are still being calculated.
Held over 48 hours from March 31 to April 2, the campaign marked an important milestone for the integrated university, bringing together support for priorities across education, research, health, student success, athletics, libraries and museums, scholarships and endowments.
“Giving Day was a powerful expression of what our university community can accomplish when we come together behind a shared vision for UT San Antonio,” said President Taylor Eighmy. “I am deeply grateful to the alumni, students, faculty, staff, parents, physicians, health professionals, donors and friends whose generosity made this moment possible. In our first year as an integrated university, their support is helping us advance education, research and health in even more meaningful ways that expand opportunities across our community.”
Learn how impactful Giving Day was for the Roadrunner community this year.
The campaign also gained momentum through a series of matching gifts and donor challenges that inspired participation and helped unlock additional support across the university.
Among the most significant milestones was the completion of Harvey E. Najim’s $300,000 challenge for the Roadrunner Athletic Fund, which was unlocked after 300 donors contributed gifts. The College of Sciences met a $35,000 dollar-for-dollar match from the Dickson-Allen Foundation, and the Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design unlocked a $25,000 gift from Margie and Bill Klesse after raising $25,000.
The Carlos Alvarez College of Business also met a key challenge, unlocking $20,000 from Oladapo Olaleye ’09 after 60 donors gave before midnight on April 1. Jennifer ’93 and David Spencer contributed several challenges totaling $10,000, along with a new tuba for School of Music programs, including Mariachi Los Paisanos and the Spirit of San Antonio Marching Band (SOSA).
Health-related funds also delivered strong results during the campaign’s first year as a university-wide effort. The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Excellence Fund completed a $500 match from Travis Block ’16, the School of Nursing earned a $250 challenge from Jerry Gonzales ’73 after reaching 20 donors, and the School of Dentistry Excellence Fund completed a $1,000 match from Ray Scott, DDS ’83.
That momentum continued through additional health prize awards tied to donor participation and dollars raised. The School of Nursing Excellence Fund led health-related funds in the number of donors and received $5,000 in prize money, followed by the UT Health Excellence Fund with $2,000 and the Mays Cancer Center Excellence Fund with $1,000.
The UT Health Excellence Fund led in total dollars raised and received an additional $5,000 in prize funding, followed by the School of Nursing Excellence Fund with $2,000 and the School of Dentistry Excellence Fund with $1,000.
The program with the most donors and dollars overall was the Roadrunner Athletic Fund, earning an additional $10,000.
Additional support came through a magnet challenge sponsored by April Ancira ’05 and Ancira Auto Group, which awarded $3,000 to student-choice programs including Student Government Association, Roadrunner Pantry, SOSA, Birds Up for Barry, Title IX Programs, School of Music and the Pollinator Garden.
“It was inspiring to see so many people rally behind the programs, students and opportunities they care about most,” said Karl Miller-Lugo, senior vice president for advancement and alumni engagement. “That kind of engagement speaks to the strength of this university community and the momentum we are building together. Every gift helped move UT San Antonio forward.”
“As a unified university, we have an extraordinary opportunity to connect education, research and health in ways that strengthen how we serve others,” said Francisco G. Cigarroa, senior executive vice president for health affairs and health system. “Support through Giving Day helps move that work forward and reinforces the impact this institution can make through discovery, clinical excellence and collaboration. It is wonderful to be together in this meaningful effort to make lives better.”
