The Impact of Giving Over the Years

University of Houston benefactors have helped influence the development of all aspects of the university. The following is representative of how donors have partnered with the university to explore new ideas, expand teaching and research, and enhance the campus and the lives of UH faculty, students, programs, and activities over the years.

One of the ways that donors have embraced UH is through faculty support. The Cullen Foundation established the Cullen Distinguished Professorship Fund, which recognizes faculty members’ contributions to the university and to their individual disciplines. The Foundation also has been instrumental in bolstering UH’s nationally ranked Creative Writing Program by establishing the Inprint Endowed Chair in Creative Writing. Additionally, The Cullen Trust for Higher Education established the Hispanic Literature Endowed Chair and Elizabeth D. Rockwell generously created Rockwell Chairs for the library, and for the education and engineering colleges.

Another aspect of faculty support is through research. At any level and in every field of study, research advances the knowledge of the world scientifically, culturally, and creatively. As an advocate for research in the sciences, The Robert A. Welch Foundation financially endorsed the research and study of chemistry, biomolecular reactions, synthesis and transport studies as well as numerous other projects.

For seventy-five years, UH benefactors have created scholarships to help deserving students meet the financial challenges associated with a college education. Contributions toward endowments and non-endowed academic scholarships are making a lasting and significant difference in students’ lives. Because gifts provide many resources, the university is able to award numerous scholarships to students in all colleges and in all areas of study such as the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation’s Par Excellence and Wine and Spirit Management Institute scholarships.

Another way that donors have strengthened the university is through the support of outstanding programs like the Bauer College of Business, the Program for Mastery in Engineering Studies (PROMES), Arte Público Press, and the Scholars’ Community, which are funded in part by ExxonMobil/ExxonMobil Foundation. Donors like Shell Oil Company also have helped to bring about a spirit of investigation, collaboration, and dialogue through support of Blaffer Gallery, the Art Museum of the University of Houston; the Center for Public Policy; and programs in theatre, social work, optometry, pharmacy, architecture, engineering, and technology. Other university initiatives benefiting from longtime benefactors are the Robert C. Lanier Chair in Urban Public Policy and the Lanier Public Policy Conference, which received funding support from friends like The John P. McGovern Fund. And, the Center for Reform of School Systems, which will impact generations of students on a local and national scale, is one among many of Houston Endowment Inc.’s program support areas at the university.

Furthermore, the UH landscape has benefited from the generosity of many supporters. Thanks to funding from Rebecca and John J. Moores, the Alumni/Athletic Center and the Rebecca and John J. Moores School of Music buildings are state-of-the-art venues. Moreover, UH athletics received a major gift from former UH System regent John M. O’Quinn for the renovation of the John O’Quinn Field at Robertson Stadium while the Law Center received funding for the O’Quinn Law Library, which is among the ten largest law libraries in the United States.

Wherever the focus—faculty, research, students, programs, or facilities—your commitment to UH over the years has produced incredible innovation. We look forward to many more years of continued progress together. For more information on how you can support the University of Houston and its programs, please visit our Web site at www.uh.edu/development.

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