Secret CEO Donor Gives Record $50 Million to University of Houston, Challenges College to do More

University of Houston is having what you’d call an amazing week. A record-setting $50 million donation dubbed the “Aspire Fund” can do that.

This single biggest gift in the UH’s history will establish four distinct institutes focused on tackling serious issues in society. Think energy, infrastructure, precision medicine and global engagement.

And it doesn’t end there. This massive donation to University of Houston’s “Here, We Go” fundraising campaign will also establish endowed professorships and chairs to helm these programs. The phenomenal faculty certainly will be a draw.

This gift was made by a truly generous secret donor, said to be a CEO with a storied history of giving.

The stunning $50 million is an inspiration — and a true motivator. It challenges the school to raise $50 million to match it.

University of Houston might just be on track. After all, the college’s “Here, We Go” campaign outstripped its ambitious $1 billion goal already this year, way ahead of the anticipated August 2020 timeline.

This follows the April announcement of a $10-million grant to the University of Houston Texas Center for Learning Disabilities by another anonymous donor to preserve and enhance the program.

Another welcome, shocking contribution also came roughly this time last year. In July of 2018, an anonymous donor gave a $3 million gift to cover the entire tuition of all 30 students of the inaugural class of University of Houston’s new College of Medicine.

Go Coogs, indeed.