SAN MARCOS, Texas – Through the generous support of donors, Texas State Athletics had a record-breaking fundraising year in 2022-23 as it raised $11.6 million. It was the highest-ever total given in a fiscal year to benefit the athletics department and student-athlete scholarships, and the support created positive momentum for 2023-24.
 
Last year, Texas State Athletics received 36 gifts of $25,000 or more towards scholarship support, endowments, and major gifts to facility projects. It received the second-largest gift in the department's history from Johnny and Nathali Weisman, which was towards the renovation of the South End Zone Complex at Bobcat Stadium. The new football complex will be named the Johnny and Nathali Weisman Football Performance Center in honor of the transformational gift.
 
The Weisman gift was also one of four gifts of $1 million or more during the academic year with capital project gifts accounting for more than $7.2 million of the $11.6 million total. Another $1.7 million was for scholarship endowments while Bobcat Club memberships, sport-specific giving, seat contributions and suites were $1.7 million. Gift-in-kind partners and Bobcat Bonanza raised an additional $1 million.
 
The Bobcat Club also saw its largest year-over-year growth since 2016-17 in both the number of members and dollars raised. The increase was due in part to the Dan and Cindee Diepenhorst Champions Club at Bobcat Stadium being sold out of Platinum level seats for the first time since 2016 with 110 new seats added this offseason. Additionally, the Student Bobcat Club reached a record number of members with more than 350.
 
"On behalf of the Bobcat Club, Texas State Athletics and Texas State University, thank you to all our avid supporters and donors who made last year a record-breaking year for scholarship support and facility enhancements," said Travis Comer, Texas State Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director for Development and Administration. "Our vision at Texas State is to be one of the best athletic departments in the country, and to have people believe in that aspiration and choose to support the goal of developing champions is inspiring. Our Bobcat Club is the key to unlocking more success and continuing to graduate the next group of Bobcats, and we hope to see the support by our Bobcat Club members grow even more this year."
 
Texas State Athletics is looking to continue the momentum in 2023-24 behind the strong start to the fall. The football team is off to its best start in 12 years, and fans can support the team by purchasing Champions Club Gold seats at a prorated price for the remaining three home games. Fans can also join the Bobcat Club today and have access to all of the exclusive membership benefits for the remainder of the academic year.
 
Texas State University also held its annual Step Up for State campaign two weeks ago and raised more than $1.62 million for the entire campus.
 
While the primary focus is providing scholarship support for student-athletes, the Bobcat Club has also been focused on raising money for facilities upgrades and high-impact projects that directly benefit student-athletes.
 
The new Johnny and Nathali Weisman Football Performance Center has begun construction at Bobcat Stadium in October. The project also features the William Trevillion IV Weight Room, which will open in August 2024 alongside a new training room with hydrotherapy. Completion of the Weisman Football Performance Center will commence in 2025.
 
Currently, Texas State Athletics is investing in a multi-million-dollar project for baseball and softball enhancements. The expansion of Bobcat Ballpark is in its fundraising stage as the campaign continues its outreach to donors and former letterwinners to raise private dollars to start construction. Former student-athlete Tyler Sibley and Chris and Shannon Rasmussen provided leadoff gifts that have already made a significant impact on the project's fundraising goals.

Those interested in joining the Bobcat Club, purchasing Champions Club Level seats at Bobcat Stadium, supporting facility enhancements or learning more about how philanthropy makes an impact on Texas State Athletics can contact the team by emailing bobcatclub@txstate.edu or calling 512-245-2117.
 
To keep up with the Bobcat Club, be sure to follow it on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.