APRIL 3, 2025 — Over a spirited 1,969 minutes on Tuesday, April 1, and Wednesday, April 2, the Roadrunner community united for the fifth annual UT San Antonio Giving Day. While final figures are pending, preliminary results reveal that UT San Antonio supporters have once again demonstrated remarkable generosity, with over 2,415 gifts contributing to a record-breaking $833,836 raised.
Donations poured in from students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents and friends, benefiting more than 60 initiatives across the university. These include academic colleges and schools, student programs, Roadrunner Athletics, UT San Antonio Libraries and Museums, the Roadrunner Food Pantry, scholarships and endowments.
“Once again, our Roadrunner community has come together with remarkable generosity on Giving Day,” said UT San Antonio President Taylor Eighmy. “I’m endlessly grateful to our faculty, staff, students, alumni and university champions whose ongoing commitment to our mission drives incredible progress for UT San Antonio. Their collective support continues to uplift our students and expand our impact in meaningful ways across our city, state, nation and beyond.”
One of the largest gifts this year came from long-time UT San Antonio supporter and San Antonio philanthropist Harvey Najim, who committed $300,000 to the Roadrunner Athletic Fund. The donation helped UT San Antonio Athletics top the leaderboard in both dollars raised and number of donors, which earned the program an additional $5,000 in Giving Day challenge funds.
UT San Antonio Libraries also celebrated a milestone gift. Alan Beckstead, who previously contributed funds and one of the largest art collections to the UT San Antonio Art Collection in 2023, has made a $150,000 planned gift to support the Happy Foundation Research Archives. The gift will help grow the archives and expand access to its materials for students, researchers, and the broader community.
A campuswide scavenger hunt added a hands-on element to the campaign. Sponsored by April Ancira ’03 and Ancira Auto Group, the magnet challenge allowed students to discover hidden magnets marked with donation values. Once found, students could direct the funds to a program of their choice. More than $3,000 was distributed to initiatives including Birds Up for Barry, the Spirit of San Antonio Marching Band, the Film and Media Studies program and the Center for Collegiate Recovery.
Additional Giving Day challenges helped drive momentum and deepen donor engagement throughout the 32-hour campaign. The “Turn the Map Orange” challenge inspired nationwide participation, unlocking a $5,000 gift for the Student Emergency Fund after UT San Antonio secured donations from all 50 states. A $25,000 matching gift from Margie and Bill Klesse was unlocked, after supporters helped the Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design meet its goal, to support the college’s capacity for innovation and student success.
As UT San Antonio Giving Day continues to grow, the collective efforts of the Roadrunner community play a pivotal role in advancing the university's mission and enhancing the experiences of its students.
"The momentum behind UT San Antonio Giving Day grows stronger each year," said Karl Miller-Lugo, UT San Antonio Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Engagement. "This event is a testament to the passion and commitment of our alumni, students, faculty and friends. Together, we are investing in the future of UT San Antonio.”
