Donors and friends of The University of Texas at Dallas gathered Oct. 19 for the 2023 Celebration of Support, an annual event honoring University supporters.
The Texins Jazz Band, a Dallas-based big band formerly known as The Texas Instruments Jazz Band, welcomed guests as green and orange lights lit up the Davidson-Gundy Alumni Center.
A record $96 million was raised last year, made possible by over 17,500 gifts from 8,114 donors. It was the largest single fundraising year in UT Dallas’ history.
“We are grateful for each and every one of these gifts,” said UT Dallas President Richard C. Benson, the Eugene McDermott Distinguished University Chair of Leadership. “Every student and faculty member at UT Dallas benefits from our donors’ generosity. And every gift, no matter how large or small, makes a difference.”
Philanthropic contributions help advance the $750 million goal of New Dimensions: The Campaign for UT Dallas. To date, nearly $400 million has been raised toward the campaign’s efforts to attract the best and brightest students, enhance lives through research and transform the arts at UTD.
Speakers at the event highlighted several notable gifts made in 2023, including a historic $40 million gift from the Harry W. Bass Jr. Foundation to support the newly named Harry W. Bass Jr. School of Arts, Humanities, and Technology and to accelerate Phase II of the Edith and Peter O’Donnell Jr. Athenaeum.
Gifts from Texas Instruments, the Eugene McDermott Foundation, Lyda Hill Philanthropies and other generous donors helped open the Texas Instruments Biomedical Engineering and Sciences Building this fall.
“Philanthropy makes an incredible difference across our campus,” said Kyle Edgington PhD’13, vice president for development and alumni relations. “This is a night when we get to recognize our loyal supporters and celebrate everything they make possible at UT Dallas.”
“Philanthropy makes an incredible difference across our campus. This is a night when we get to recognize our loyal supporters and celebrate everything they make possible at UT Dallas.”
Kyle Edgington PhD’13, vice president for development and alumni relations
Dr. Donal Skinner, dean and the Mary McDermott Cook Chair in the Hobson Wildenthal Honors College, noted the impact that philanthropic support has had on UTD’s 1,200 honors students, particularly their ability to study abroad.
“Being in honors makes a difference,” Skinner said. “Building a community of scholars with opportunities for them is important. I believe that every student should have an international experience. Through the generosity of donors, we are expanding these opportunities so they may explore experiences overseas.
“If it weren’t for the generosity of donors, none of this would be possible.”