$50 Million Goes to Vet Med, Engineering, Neyland Stadium
These things are beginning to add up. UT hasn’t even officially announced its capital campaign, and already it has more than $400 million in contributions and commitments.
One of the most recent, and most remarkable, is a $50 million anonymous gift—the largest personal donation in university history.
The donors designated half the gift to specific initiatives in Veterinary Medicine and the College of Engineering, while the other half will go toward intercollegiate athletics, including the historic Neyland Stadium renovations.
The initial installment will be $10 million. The other $40 million will be in an estate gift funding specific programs and initiatives developed over time in the donors’ areas of interest.
The anonymous gift comes on the heels of Knoxville philanthropists Jim and Natalie Haslam’s commitment of $32.5 million, the previous largest individual gift. “Just as we hoped that our commitment would encourage others to support our great university, I’m sure that these anonymous donors would want someone else to come forward and eclipse even this incredible gift,” said Haslam. The Haslams’ gift went primarily to music, business, the Baker Center, and athletics.
UT’s campaign is still in its “silent phase.” A campaign goal hasn’t been announced.