Initial UTSA Giving Day numbers showcase strong philanthropic support

Among the success stories of this year’s Giving Day was the Spirit of San Antonio, which met their funding challenge for new uniforms.

APRIL 15, 2024 — For 1,969 minutes on Tuesday, April 9, and Wednesday, April 10, Roadrunners near and far gathered for the fourth annual UTSA Giving Day. While numbers are still being finalized, preliminary results demonstrate that UTSA supporters, once again, delivered impressive results with more than 2,014 gifts totaling $504,705 raised.

Contributions from students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents, and the broader community supported over 60 initiatives throughout the university, including academic colleges and schools, student initiatives, athletic programs, the UTSA Libraries and Museums, the Roadrunner Food Pantry, student scholarships and endowments.

"Year after year, our community shows incredible generosity on UTSA Giving Day, supporting students, programs, scholarships and more — and this year is no exception," said UTSA President Taylor Eighmy. “I deeply appreciate the continuous support from faculty, staff, students, alumni and community members who believe in our mission so greatly that they continue to contribute to the university’s growth and impact. Together, we are advancing the success of both our university and our incredible students.”

“UTSA Giving Day turns donating into an engaging and spirited event, which was evident in the lively competition showcased across our excellent campus organizations.”

During the 32-hour campaign, a series of challenges and matching gifts amplified the impact of each individual donation. Notably, the Margie and Bill Klesse Challenge, designed to inspire broader program support for the Margie and Bill Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design (KCEID), surpassed its $25,000 mark to unlock an additional $25,000 gift from the Klesses. This strategic challenge both encouraged giving and magnified the donors' impact, enhancing the college’s capacity for innovation and growth.

The Spirit of San Antonio (SOSA) also met this year’s challenge for new uniforms. Donations totaling more than $10,000 were received to support the band’s updated attire, leading to the release of a $20,000 donation from Chris and Sara Bunch ’85 and $20,000 from David and Jennifer Spencer ’93. SOSA also led the entire campaign in donors with 365, earning the top prize of $5,000.

The overall winner of the leaderboard challenge for dollars raised was UTSA Athletics, raising more than $64,800 from 275 donors, which earned them an additional $5,000. Drs. John Richardson and Jan Puckett provided funding for that challenge. The Fostering Futures Program earned an additional $1,000 for taking top spots for the student program with the most donors and most dollars raised.

More than $3,000 was awarded to student programs thanks to a special challenge by Ancira Auto Group and April Ancira ‘03. Magnets were hidden around campus with various dollar amounts and the students who found them could donate to a program of their choosing. Balfour, the official purveyor of the UTSA Ring program, matched gifts for a new Ring Statue that will be constructed on campus.

Donations ranging from $1 to $6,000 on the UTSA Giving Day website also played a key role in the campaign's success.

In hosting a fourth UTSA Giving Day, the Roadrunner community joined a successful trend in higher education to celebrate philanthropy and focus giving over a limited number of days. The project is led by the UTSA Annual Giving team working with colleagues in the UTSA Division of Advancement and Alumni Engagement and others across the university.

“UTSA Giving Day turns donating into an engaging and spirited event, which was evident in the lively competition showcased across our excellent campus organizations,” said Karl Miller-Lugo, UTSA Vice President for Advancement and Alumni Engagement. “While final numbers are still being counted, the preliminary results promise that this year’s event will have a tremendous impact for students and programs across our campuses. My sincere gratitude goes out to all who have generously invested in ‘building the nest’, nurturing our university and beloved San Antonio community.”

— Jordan Allen