Texas A&M University-Victoria President Christian Hardigree, center, stands at a donation table inside Chick-fil-A at The Crossroads for the university Tuesday, Dec. 2, with Bro. Gary Moses, second from left, and university employees Jamie Summerlin, left; Molly Duke, second from right; and Hannah Hayward, far right. During Giving Day, more than 200 donations were made, raising more than $80,000.

Giving Day was a day filled with generosity and support for higher education as supporters of Texas A&M University-Victoria raised more than $80,000 for the university’s initiatives, especially scholarships.

“Giving Day reflects the heart and momentum of our university,” A&M-Victoria President Christian Hardigree said. “Seeing our students, faculty and staff so actively engaged in spreading the word was both exciting and deeply meaningful. Their collective energy helped elevate this year’s efforts and will fuel opportunities that benefit our entire community.”

Giving Day began at midnight on Dec. 2 and ran until 11:59 p.m. During that 24-hour period, members of the community, as well as faculty, staff and students, donated a total of $80,985 toward different needs at the university. The donations were made by 180 individual donors making 205 donations. The three areas that received the most donations were: The Spirit of the 12^th Campus Initiative scholarship, JP’s Market student food pantry and A&M-Victoria Athletics.

Kelsey Gomez

“We are thankful for the support and generosity shown by the community, especially for the many donations that went to funds that directly impact our students,” said Kelsey Norgard, director of alumni relations and annual giving. “Thank you to the employees who gave as well. Your love for the university’s students and dedication to providing what they need to succeed was on full display.”

During Giving Day, the university received several large donations from companies and individuals. The two largest gifts were a $12,000 lead donation made by Keller Wealth Advisors/Keller & Associates CPAs, PLLC, and a $6,000 donation by A&M-Victoria President Christian Hardigree. Other donors who gave $1,000 or more were:

• Sally Aman & Mark Barnes
• Building Brands Marketing
• Chick-fil-A Victoria
• Russell Dempsey
• David Faskas (2012) and Rachel Faskas
• The First State Bank
• The Garza Family: Eli, Jennifer (1997) and Emiliano
• Mary Virginia Jacobs
• Lee & Tami Keeling, in memory of their fathers, William B. Townsend Jr. and Edgar R. Keeling Jr.
• VCS Companies
• Kenneth & Betty Vickers

For David Faskas, managing member of Keller Wealth Advisors and an A&M-Victoria alumnus, Giving Day is an opportunity to invest in the community by supporting higher education. Faskas and his wife donated $1,200 to the university.

David Faskas

“The university is so important to Victoria,” Faskas said. “It’s a place to help people build careers and thrive in their futures. I and my coworkers want to see the university thrive so the community can thrive as well.”

Faskas earned his Bachelor of Business Administration in finance from the university in 2012. That experience gave him a passion for learning and a love of mentoring others in the business world. That is encouraged at Keller Wealth Advisors, which often hires A&M-Victoria business students as interns, many of whom have gone on to become full-time employees for the company.

Now, after the university has made the transition into The Texas A&M University System, and the community is showing its excitement and support for the change, Faskas hopes to see even more success for the university, its students and the community.

“I’m glad to hear the Giving Day campaign was such a success,” he said. “At Keller, we encourage our employees to get involved in the community and make a positive impact. A&M-Victoria is building momentum as it moves forward, and I’m excited to be part of helping that initiative move forward.”