Greehey Family Foundation commits $1.25 million to UTSA’s Be Bold Capital Campaign

The Greehey Family takes a photos with UTSA Athletics representatives on the field.

MARCH 20, 2024 — UTSA has received a $1.25 million commitment from The Greehey Family Foundation to support its Be Bold capital campaign. Funds will be used to establish The Greehey Family Foundation Athletics Excellence Fund, which will provide scholarships to athletes who are first-generation college students as well as academic services to ensure students are successful in the classroom.

To date, the Be Bold capital campaign, which aims to enhance student success, research excellence and innovation, has raised over $380 million from more than 46,000 donors.

“We are deeply appreciative of the Greeheys’ confidence in the promise and potential of our Roadrunners. The immense generosity of The Greehey Family Foundation advances the university’s new era of excellence and builds upon the Foundation’s history of support for student success,” said UTSA President Taylor Eighmy. “This gift significantly strengthens our ability to foster a competitive athletics program that serves as a source of distinction and pride for both the university and the entire San Antonio community."

“The Greehey Family Foundation has helped lay the groundwork for the growth of UTSA Athletics and academic enrichment for our student-athletes.”

The Greehey Family Foundation has directed $250,000 of its gift exclusively toward football scholarships, while the remaining $1 million commitment will be spread across several key areas, including: 

• Scholarships, which provide student-athletes with financial support for tuition and help them gain greater access to nutritional programming, advising and physical training;
  
  
• Academic services, including counselors, mentors and tutors who provide one-on-one tutoring, evaluate potential learning disabilities, monitor academic plans, help student-athletes develop self-awareness and self-advocacy skills and provide appropriate testing referrals; and
  
  
• Health and wellness programs, which foster the emotional and physical wellbeing of student-athletes, elevating championship-level performance and finding solutions for long-term health.

The first in their family to attend college, William E. “Bill” Greehey and his wife, Louree, are both strong proponents of higher education. They’ve contributed to UTSA for nearly 30 years, pre-dating their creation of The Greehey Family Foundation, which they established in 2004. Through their foundation, the family has supported student scholarships, academic programs and facility enhancements at UTSA.  

The Greehey Family Foundation Endowed Scholarship for First-Generation Students was established with a $1 million commitment in 2007. Additionally, another $100,000 was given in 2011 to bolster advanced research in vaccinology. With the inception of Roadrunners football that same year, the foundation broadened its contributions to include the athletics department. The Greeheys created The Greehey Family Foundation Football Scholarship with a $500,000 donation and sustained this effort with yearly contributions from 2013 to 2022.

“The Greehey Family Foundation has helped lay the groundwork for the growth of UTSA Athletics and academic enrichment for our student-athletes,” said Lisa Campos, UTSA vice president for intercollegiate athletics. “This partnership reflects the Foundation's commitment to improving education and helping our community grow. We are excited to continue our work together and create more opportunities that make a meaningful difference in the lives of our Roadrunners and pave the way for their success.”

Prior to this most recent gift, The Greehey Family Foundation's contributions to UTSA Athletics have exceeded $2.25 million and directly impacted over 100 student-athletes. Recognizing the integral role of athletics in fostering community and alumni engagement, the foundation has shared that it views UTSA Athletics as a front door to the university, reflecting its spirit and values.

“We’re proud to continue our support of UTSA and to play a key role in ensuring that so many deserving students, especially those who are first-generation, have access to educational excellence,” said Bill Greehey. “With our foundation’s contribution, it’s our hope that many more student-athletes will achieve great success both on the field and in the classroom. It’s an honor to support a local university that’s truly making a difference by helping to shape the lives of thousands of students each year.”  

Committed to serving the local community, The Greehey Family Foundation is recognized for its dedication to health and human welfare, children's advocacy, education and transforming the lives of individuals experiencing homelessness. The foundation has granted several hundred million to approximately 1,000 charitable causes, ranging from assisting individual families to supporting children’s cancer research and treatment.

— Jennilee Garza