Welcome to fundraising Friday, AB Today's weekly digest of recent developments in development.
Boise State University's athletics department has announced that Eric and Christina Sonner have committed $2.5 million to support Boise State's North End Zone Project (see today's installment of AB Today's Daily Digs). Their gift continues the momentum of Unbridled: The Campaign for Boise State University, with the North End Zone Project set to transform Albertsons Stadium with premium seating, expanded hospitality spaces and enhanced fan amenities while generating new revenue streams that position the Broncos for sustained success in the Pac-12 Conference, per Tuesday's announcement.
Ben Thomas, Virginia Tech's director of cross country and track and field, announced Thursday the largest philanthropic gift commitment in program history, a $1.2 million donation from Martha and Paul Seufer. Per the announcement at hokiesports.com, the record-breaking contribution will establish the Champions For Life area within the lobby entrance of Rector Field House, where Virginia Tech will recognize program alumni whose accomplishments extend beyond the field of competition. The gift will also support the construction of the Seufer Family Pavilion, a new covered space at Virginia Tech’s outdoor practice facility designed to enhance the student-athlete experience by providing a dedicated area for training, recovery and team activities.
The University of Nevada athletics department has received a $1 million donation from the NFL's Las Vegas Raiders, which was presented at the annual Governor's Dinner, according to a Thursday report by Nevada Sports Net (KNSN in Reno). Raiders owner Mark Davis and team president Sandra Douglass Morgan, a UNR graduate, were on hand to represent the Raiders Foundation during the last week's major Wolf Pack fundraiser.
DePaul Athletics announced Tuesday that alum and university life trustee Ernie Wish has continued his longtime support of the Blue Demons with a $500,000 gift to support DePaul softball scholarships and other program needs. Wish and wife Mimi have endowed scholarships across multiple Blue Demon programs, including softball, men's and women's soccer, golf and women's tennis, and were major donors behind the department's Wish Field. This latest gift will provide flexible resources for the softball program, supporting areas such as training, travel, recruiting and the overall student-athlete experience.
The Indiana State University athletics department has received a $300,000 commitment from the Leslie Wilkinson and family toward the Sycamore men's basketball program. According to Thursday's announcement, the commitment will directly enhance the student-athlete experience by providing critical resources that support the continued growth and success of the men's basketball program.
Total amount of these gifts:
$5,500,000
Running total for 2026:
$556,127,000
Total amount tracked by AB Today in 2025:
$1,671,578,500
