Supporters Like You

Meet Our Donors

We are thankful for those who have made an estate gift to the University of South Florida Foundation, Inc.. Here are their stories.

Support from a Lover of Learning

Pat Tuley begins each day by listening to NPR’s Morning Edition on WUSF 89.7, even before she has a cup of coffee. She appreciates NPR's even-handed approach to the news. Tuley began listening to public radio when she relocated to Fort Lauderdale. But it wasn’t until she settled in the Tampa Bay area that she stepped up as a supporter.

Commitment to Excellence

Inspired by a desire to support student-athletes in a tangible way and secure their legacy as Bulls fans, in 2019 Mike and Adriana Wilsey made a generous blended gift to the USF Indoor Performance Facility, with half of the gift being made in cash and half earmarked for the center in their estate plan.

Michael Paonessa and Robert

Placemaking for a Better Tomorrow

Lifelong Tampa natives Michael Paonessa and his husband, Robert Iles, are placemakers dedicated to building a better tomorrow.

Three Scholarships, Boundless Opportunities

Although Frank Luscher had no affiliation with USF, he is a true friend of the university. Luscher's gift will leave a long-lasting legacy on student success, but more importantly, on the students he supported in achieving their academic dreams.

Cynthia Faulhaber

Answering the Call

For WUSF, Cynthia Faulhaber’s commitment to keeping public radio freely accessible knows no bounds.

Planning Ahead, Way Ahead

J.B. Wright ’05 wanted to leave a legacy for the USF College of Engineering, which has taken the shape of $50,000 in his estate plan to create the J.B. Wright Scholarship Fund.

Betty Castor and Sam Bell

One Gift, Multiple Impacts

Betty Castor and Sam Bell are Green and Gold legends. Most Bulls fondly recall Castor as the University’s first female president (January 1994 through December 1999) and later when she was recruited to take the USF Patel Center for Global Solutions to a new level (2007-2009). Those timelines are the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Castor and Bell have nonstop decades of commitment and continue to invest their time as well as their treasure in the university they love.

USF Morsani College of Medicine

Scholarships for Future Doctors

Worried the expense would deter students from enrolling in medical school, Morton "Phil" Stanson and Bill Toshok wanted to help relieve some of the cost for the next generation of doctors.

Jerry and Sue Ellen Addicott

A New Way to Give

In November 2019, Jerry and Sue Ellen Addicott celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary, which also marked 21 years of consistent giving to WUSF Public Media. And thanks to supporters like the Addicotts, the music they love plays on.

Sound Values to Live By

Jim Farr said his Sigma Nu experience at the University of South Florida provided a positive foundation that has carried through the rest of his life—through graduate school, through his career as a real estate attorney and through his personal life, raising two daughters.

Don and Penny Butz

A Lifetime of Service, a Commitment to USF

Being in the Peace Corps was one of the most exciting times of their lives, and what they observed there would plant the seed for their philanthropic support of the University of South Florida decades later.

Robert (Bob) Findorff

Investing in Lifelong Learning

Robert Findorff invests in Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at the University of South Florida through planned gift.

David and Shari Gray

Two Longtime USF Bulls Football Fans Go Deep With their Support — in the Form of a Planned Gift

Shari Gray, a USF alumna and a fiscal and business analyst at the university, and husband David Gray are diehard Bulls football fans. But they also happen to be proud donors to USF Athletics. Their recent estate gift, made through the Office of Gift Planning, will help student-athletes who transfer to USF from junior college complete their degrees if their scholarship money runs out before they graduate.

Kathy Betancourt and Coach

USF Women’s Basketball Gets an Assist From Longtime Lobbyist Kathy Betancourt With an IRA Gift

Kathy Betancourt's support of USF Women's Basketball includes a recent $30,000 scholarship contribution to the program through the Office of Gift Planning and an additional $20,000 to create a fund which will support a variety of USF initiatives.

A USF Alumnus Digs Deep to Help the Geology Field Station Take Shape

Jeff Brame, a successful geologist in the oil and gas industry, is giving back to USF's School of Geosciences, which helped launch him on his way in the master's degree program.

Traci and Jeff Jurek

Just Keep Going

Education is a gift Traci and Jeff Jurek want to pay forward to help other nontraditional students make it through school, too.

Rose and Dennis Killinger

Beaming in a Gift – Thanks to a Laser Expert and Greatest Show on Earth

Dr. Dennis Killinger, an international expert in laser technology, and wife Rose Killinger have been a presence at USF for 30-plus years -- and now they are giving back to support one of Rose's longtime passions at the university.

A Welcome Gift Sails in for WUSF

Longtime St. Petersburg resident and former tanker first mate Patrick Green turns a passion for public radio into a planned gift.

A Boost to Investigative Journalism

Career marketing executive promotes belief in journalism with new investigative scholarship at USFSP.

Insuring Student Success

Insurance industry veteran Chris Reyes has found a way to parlay her expertise into a planned gift to help deserving students.

Teaming Up to Slam Type One

Major Leaguer “Super” Sam Fuld Joins Forces With SLAMDiabetes Creator Jeff Kolok and a Host of MLB Stars to Fight Type 1 Diabetes at USF – in a Wiffle Ball Tournament

Steve Fessler and Randy Lord

Changing Lives Through Music

Steve Fessler and Randy Lord have established the graduate assistantship at USF’s School of Music, designed to help serious music students graduate from USF.

Not Missing A Beat

University of South Florida alumnus Bill Daggett knows the meaning of hard work and perseverance. A retired Temple Terrace police officer, Daggett has selflessly served his community both in his career and personal life. He’s passionate about giving back, and knows that small, steady efforts – made over a long period of time – can add up to something big.

An Eye Doctor With a Big Heart

According to Dr. Robert Fier, the real key to eye surgery is in the heart. Since the beginning of his career, Fier has generously given back his time and capital to help students and people in need.

Dan and Tina Johnson

Easing the Way

Dan Johnson worked his way through college, and always thought it would be wonderful if students didn't have to work so hard to put themselves through school. Now, Dan and his wife, Tina, are taking action on that thought by supporting students in the USF School of Accountancy.