An anonymous donor gave the largest individual gift ever to University of Florida athletics, the school announced Friday.
According to Florida officials, the $12.5 million donation will be matched to provide $25 million to enhance the program for tutoring, studying, academic advising, job placement and other services for UF’s 480 student-athletes in 21 varsity sports.
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"This gift was made in honor of Otis Hawkins and his family,” the donor said to Florida officials. "Otis was one of the earliest Gator boosters and fervently believed each student-athlete should be fully supported in their academic as well as their athletic pursuits."
Funds from the donation will be used to renovate the newly named Otis Hawkins Center for Academic and Personal Excellence that will double the building’s square footage and include 50 tutoring rooms, three computer labs, a 100-plus-seat classroom, a nutrition wing and a sports medicine research area, along with staff offices for student-athletes.
Hawkins received his B.A. in Finance from Florida in 1970 and is the founder of Southeastern Asset Management, a $35 billion employee-owned, global investment management firm and the investment advisor to the Longleaf Partners Funds, a suite of mutual funds and UCITS funds.