SEPTEMBER 6, 2023 — In a spirited effort to boost support for Roadrunners Football, UTSA Campaign Leadership Council member and local philanthropist Harvey E. Najim has committed $2 million to the program. In addition, Najim has purchased more than 7,100 tickets for over 60 organizations in San Antonio and surrounding areas to enjoy the season home opener on Saturday, September 9 at the Alamodome.
Najim’s charitable gift will go toward an unrestricted fund managed by Head Football Coach Jeff Traylor, with $1 million donated toward the current season and $1 million pledged for next season.
This is the second consecutive season that Najim has made a bulk purchase of game tickets for the community. He and other university donors leveraged the Roadrunner Rally Ticket Donation program, a UTSA Athletics initiative that enables individuals or companies to sponsor tickets for groups or organizations in San Antonio and surrounding communities.
Last season, Najim made it possible for more than 2,000 San Antonians to attend UTSA’s Conference USA Championship game against North Texas. The Roadrunners triumphed and took home their second consecutive C-USA championship.
“I’ve come to know Harvey Najim very well during my time in San Antonio. It’s clear he has a deep passion for the Roadrunners and belief in what we’re building here. This investment will have a huge impact on our program and student-athletes, and he continues to inspire others with his interest in raising UTSA’s visibility to thousands of community members," said Traylor.
"There’s a lot of momentum for UTSA right now, but it will really take all of us to get this program to the level where we want it to be. I am deeply grateful to Harvey and all of our UTSA Athletics supporters for making commitments to ensure that our program remains competitive.”
This Saturday’s game against Texas State is the home opener for UTSA’s first football season as a member of the American Athletic Conference. UTSA was invited to join The American in Fall 2021 and officially joined the league on July 1, 2023. As a member of The American, UTSA will enjoy greater national media exposure, enhanced brand recognition, more matchups against teams from the state of Texas and expanded recruiting opportunities, furthering the university’s ability to compete at the highest level.
On the heels of its entry into The American, UTSA Athletics launched the Bold Champions in The American campaign, which aims to grow support through increased activity in four prime areas by directly supporting student-athletes through the Roadrunner Athletic Fund, increasing ticket sales to sporting events, enhancing and expanding athletics facilities, and developing stronger relationships with corporate sponsors.
"I'm incredibly excited about the future of UTSA Athletics, and I want to see UTSA succeed and triumph in The American,” expressed Najim. “The potential that the football program has to unite communities far and wide is remarkable. Initiatives like the Roadrunner Rally Ticket Donation program help cultivate passion and pride for UTSA Athletics. I hope that as more communities experience the thrill of Roadrunners Football first-hand, other donors, fans and businesses will be inspired to make investments that ensure the spirit of our UTSA Athletics program resonates across the nation."
Najim has made many impactful charitable gifts to UTSA over the years. In September 2020, he committed $3 million to establish the Harvey E. Najim Innovation and Career Advancement Center, which is driving the UTSA Classroom to Career initiative as part of the university’s vision to become a model of student success. He later committed $2 million to expand the experiential learning Center to the UTSA Downtown Campus, which doubled its reach from 500 students to over 1,000 aspiring entrepreneurs and future leaders.
“Harvey Najim continues to be one of the university’s most loyal and impactful donors. UTSA Athletics is extremely grateful to him for his generosity and his support in helping thousands of Roadrunners Football fans experience the opportunity to attend our first home game of the season,” said Lisa Campos, UTSA vice president for intercollegiate athletics. “It is this level of enthusiasm from our supporters that will help drive our athletics programs toward bold, new heights. With our new position in The American, we need everyone across Roadrunner Nation to show up and support our talented student-athletes.”
Other UTSA Athletics supporters including Pat Frost, Boeing – San Antonio, Bill and Sid Greehey, and Brad Beldon have also leveraged the Roadrunner Rally Ticket Donation program to make football game tickets available to organizations in San Antonio and surrounding areas. San Antonio companies, foundations and UTSA Athletics donors are encouraged to consider participating. The program allows donors to benefit both the university and community groups while simultaneously boosting fanbase support.
