UA Donors Give Until It Hurts

Private gifts of $83.2 million for the fiscal year that ended June 30 marked the University of Arkansas’ second strongest year of fund raising.

More than $48 million went to academic support, leaving almost $35 million that was given to the men’s athletic programs.

Within the academic portion of the donations, the Sam M. Walton College of Business Administration received the most money at $9.7 million. Tom Seay contributed $4 million to the college to establish an endowed chair of real estate and finance, said David Gearhart, vice chancellor for university advancement.

The J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences recorded $7.9 million in gifts with one donation of $1.2 million from George and Boyce Billingsley for the music program, Gearhart said.

Private donations funding athletics included a $20 million gift from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation to expand Razorback Stadium.