UWF exceeds $100 million Here for Good capital campaign goal

The University of West Florida’s Here for Good capital campaign has officially concluded, surpassing $100 million in philanthropic support and engaging more than 33,000 donors to advance the University’s four key priorities of people, programs, place and community. 

Publicly launched in 2024 as the most ambitious fundraising effort in University history with an initial goal of $90 million, the campaign brought together alumni, donors and community partners to support scholarships, academic and research initiatives, campus enhancements and programs that expand UWF’s regional impact.

“Crossing the $100 million mark says something powerful about UWF,” said UWF President Manny Diaz Jr. “It says people see the value in this institution, they trust where we’re headed, and they’re willing to invest in that future. That kind of support changes what’s possible for our students.”

A landmark moment in the campaign was a transformational gift of more than $9 million from the late Pensacola native and UWF alumnus Darrell Gooden to support construction of the University’s on-campus football stadium. The gift, the largest from a living donor in University history, led to the naming of Darrell Gooden Stadium, which officially broke ground in February, and marked a defining investment in the future of not just UWF athletics, but in an entire institution on the rise.

An earlier transformational gift came from the late Dr. Herman and Valerie Rolfs, whose estate gift of more than $8.5 million established the Dr. Grier Williams School of Music and provides significant scholarship support and resources for music students. Inspired by their shared love of classical music and belief in access to education, the Rolfs’ gift continues to expand opportunities for aspiring musicians and strengthen UWF’s music programs for generations to come.

The Bear Family Foundation’s $5 million legacy gift honored the late Lewis Bear Jr.’s longstanding commitment to UWF and Northwest Florida by naming the Lewis Bear Jr. College of Business. The gift provides scholarship and operational support for the college, building on Bear’s decades of service to UWF and his dedication to creating opportunities for students and advancing the region’s prosperity.

Drs. Muhammad and Fatema Rashid also continued their longstanding legacy of supporting UWF students with a $1 million gift to name the Dr. Muhammad Harunur Rashid Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. The gift reflects the Rashids’ commitment to advancing engineering education and expanding opportunities for students, building on Dr. Rashid’s instrumental role in developing UWF’s electrical and computer engineering programs and the couple’s numerous scholarship and academic endowments.

Sustained annual giving also played a central role in the campaign’s success. UWF’s Day of Giving initiative, held each year during Founders Week, became a cornerstone of engagement, uniting alumni, students, faculty, staff and community supporters in a 24-hour fundraising effort. The 2026 Day of Giving set a record with $278,554 raised and, for the first time in University history, UWF received gifts from all 50 states, reflecting the expanding reach of the Argo community.

“As I reflect on the Here for Good Campaign, I am deeply grateful to everyone who made it possible,” said Tori Bennett, vice president of University Advancement. “Every conversation, every shared story, every alumnus who reconnected with UWF and every gift — regardless of size — contributed to its success. Thank you to each person who invested in our students and the future of the University.”

The campaign’s impact is already visible across campus through new scholarships, endowed funds, named spaces and expanded opportunities that continue to reduce financial barriers and enhance the student experience.

Although the Here for Good campaign has wrapped up, its impact will continue to be felt through the students it supports, the programs it strengthens and the opportunities it creates for generations of Argos to come.

To make a gift to UWF, visit uwf.edu/give.