Winning Matters - Give to UH

The University of Houston will be officially joining the BIG 12 CONFERENCE in summer 2023.

Becoming a Power 5 member will be transformational to the University and UH Athletics. It means participating in an elite circle of world-class universities driven to excel academically, athletically and in making life-changing impacts on the communities they serve.

Now, the focus shifts to preparation to not just compete, but win, in the conference. We have waited nearly 30 years for this moment.

To meet this expectation, UH has launched the Houston Rise Campaign, a $150 million fundraising drive for Houston Athletics to accelerate our competitive success and galvanize the Cougar community.

One priority of the campaign is participation. We need a growing share of our alumni and fan base to provide essential scholarship and operating revenue for Houston Athletics and our community of student-athletes. That can be done by making a Houston Rise scholarship gift or by purchasing season tickets for men’s football or basketball.

A second priority of the campaign focuses on infrastructure. We need all who see the University as a major asset of our great city to come forward and support the following areas:

Football Development Center

A 125,000-square-foot facility is slated to become the new home of UH Football. It will be located between John O’Quinn Field at TDECU Stadium and the UH Indoor Practice Facility. The Football Development Center will feature next-generation learning and performance services for student-athletes, including strength and conditioning, sports medicine, nutrition and sports performance. The center will provide UH a resource found across the Power 5, delivering Cougar Football a competitive advantage in the pursuit of elite, championship caliber talent. With football players no longer needing to train in the Athletics/Alumni Center (AAC), that facility can be designed exclusively for UH Olympic sports training to benefit sports like volleyball, soccer and track and field.

Modernization of Guy V. Lewis Development Facility

Nearly six years old, the Guy V. Lewis Development Facility must be modernized to meet the 21st century expectations of top recruits and parents. The Cougars, under Head Coach Kelvin Sampson, are one of the nation’s elite programs. To maintain this standard, facilities supporting men’s basketball must match the program’s trajectory. Needed upgrades include the facility’s graphic and aesthetic appeal, upgraded technology in the men’s basketball locker room and improvements to the player lounge and student-athlete success areas.

Generous donations will instantly enhance competitiveness for Cougar sports programs, fulfilling essential facility needs and providing resources vital to graduating leaders and winning championships. Your support will position Cougar student-athletes as lifelong leaders of character.

Athletics-Alumni Center Renovation

The Athletics-Alumni Center (AAC) will transition from a fundamentally sound facility to a state-of-the-art home for student-athlete excellence. The new AAC will provide second-to-none services for Houston’s Olympic sports, providing unmatched infrastructure to drive department-wide success. The transformation will equip UH Athletics with a cutting-edge facility for recruiting, supporting and developing student-athletes as champions in all they do. It also will position UH at the forefront of women’s sports. This project constitutes a distinct competitive advantage and will allow Cougar student-athletes to compete and win immediately in the Big 12.

Cougar Pride

The fundraising arm of UH Athletics, Cougar Pride provides financial support for student-athlete scholarships and priority Athletics needs. Cougar Pride members consist of alumni, fans, former student-athletes, coaches and friends who work to ensure student-athletes have a first-class experience, with a chance to excel in the classroom and in competition.

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Moore Exemplifies Leadership with Houston Rise Commitment

Family pledges $1 million to support Football Operations Center
Houston — The University of Houston Athletics Department announced a $1 million pledge from Houston’s Board of Regents Vice Chair Jack Moore and his wife, Debbie. The Moore family gift will support the construction of the Football Operations Center, the centerpiece of the Houston Rise campaign.

Regent Moore’s commitment commemorates decades of leadership, with this latest contribution an important expression of faith in the future of Houston Athletics.

“Houston Athletics is the front-door to the University of Houston,” said Moore. “The rise of Cougar Athletics has correlated with the rise of the University to where it is today. The move to the Big 12 Conference confirms how far we have come. However, there is work to do and that is our motivation to invest in Houston Rise. Our foundation is strong, but now we turn our attention to the Power 5 and a new, championship era for Houston Athletics.”

UH Athletics Receives $10 Million Pledge for New Football Development Center

Houston Rise fundraising campaign off to strong start
Houston – The University of Houston Athletics Department has received an anonymous $10 million pledge to support its planned state-of-the-art Football Development Center (FDC). The gift is part of Houston Rise, the newly launched $150 million fundraising campaign centered on competitive excellence in the Big 12 Conference.

Considered the cornerstone of a new, championship era in the Big 12 for Houston Football, the FDC will represent a transformational resource to instantly impact recruiting, student-athlete development and competitiveness. With UH set to officially join the Big 12 in July, 2023, the gift provides an immediate momentum boost at a critical time in the program’s history.

“An eight-figure gift is rare. To have someone who believes in us, our mission, and the direction we’re going while entrusting us with a significant gift is humbling,” said Chris Pezman, vice president for athletics.

Houston Rising: Campaign to Compete and Win in the Big 12 Conference off to Quick Start

Achievement reflects drive for championship success
Houston – Bolstered by the momentum behind the Houston Rise campaign, Houston Athletics is building towards one of the strongest fundraising years on record for the department. Generous donors have responded to the campaign’s important call, with recent contributions fueling confidence and excitement.

Several transformational Houston Rise pledges represent highlights, including a $10 million anonymous gift announced in June and a more recent, $5 million pledge from longtime supporters, Rusty and Tricia Penick.

Other points of note include a new, first-of-its-kind partnership with Shipley Do-Nuts, and multiple six-figure, leadership pledges from a growing number of rising alumni.

Shipley Do-Nuts Named Official Coffee, Do-Nut and Cold Brew of the Houston Cougars

Strategic partnership will advance the Houston Rise Campaign as Shipley rolls out new coffee offerings
Houston – The University of Houston Athletics Department and Shipley Do-Nuts have launched a strategic, multi-year partnership that establishes Shipley as the official coffee, do-nut and cold brew of the Houston Cougars. The largest partnership of its kind in Shipley’s history, the multi-year collaboration will concentrate on elevating Shipley’s new coffee and cold brew line as the option of choice for consumers.

The partnership also advances the Houston Rise campaign, with 50% of Shipley’s investment dedicated to the construction of the Football Operations Center.

“This new partnership with Houston Athletics is a central piece of our growth strategy as we launch into our next 85 years,” Shipley CEO Clifton Rutledge said.