News Summary
Merrilee Kick, a Texas Woman’s University alumna and founder of BuzzBallz, has donated $30 million to the university, marking the largest gift in its history. This donation will rename the business college to the Merrilee Alexander Kick College of Business and Entrepreneurship and support new initiatives focused on innovation and entrepreneurship. The contribution will help establish a new institute, create programs, and construct a dedicated business college building, enhancing education and opportunities for future female leaders in business in Texas.
Texas – Merrilee Kick, a Texas Woman’s University (TWU) alumna and the founder of BuzzBallz, has made a significant impact on the university’s college of business through a monumental $30 million donation. Announced during a meeting of the Texas Woman’s governing board, this contribution marks the largest in TWU history, surpassing the previous highest donation of $15 million from the Doswell Foundation.
The college will be renamed the Merrilee Alexander Kick College of Business and Entrepreneurship on August 9. This renaming comes as part of an initiative to enhance the college’s identity and visibility while also celebrating female contributions to business and innovation.
Kick’s donation is earmarked for multiple initiatives aimed at fostering innovation and entrepreneurship within the college. The funds will be utilized to establish a new institute, create an endowed chair, and kick-start an entrepreneur-in-residence program. These initiatives are designed to provide students with unprecedented opportunities to engage with experienced professionals and gain practical knowledge of the business world.
In addition, the donation will accelerate plans to construct a new building for the business college, which will represent the first dedicated physical space for the program. Set to begin construction in the spring of 2025, the new facility will house modern amenities, including finance labs, analytics labs, and virtual reality labs, all aimed at enhancing the educational experience for students.
This gift aligns with Kick’s personal journey in the business world. Her MBA thesis served as the foundation for her business plan that led to the establishment of BuzzBallz, recognized as the only woman-owned distillery, winery, and brewery combination in the United States since its launch in 2009. Before venturing into the beverage industry, Kick worked as a high school teacher and attributes her educational background as a cornerstone of her entrepreneurial success.
Kick’s commitment to education extends beyond her own achievements. She emphasizes the importance of education as a pathway to success and hopes to inspire future generations of female entrepreneurs through her donation. Texas Woman’s Chancellor Carine Feyten lauded the gift as a pivotal step toward acknowledging and celebrating women’s contributions in the business sector.
The newly created entrepreneur-in-residence program will offer hands-on mentorship for students, providing valuable insights and experiences that could shape their future careers. This initiative aims to create a robust support system for emerging entrepreneurs at TWU, enabling them to learn from and interact with established leaders in their respective fields.
The TWU business college was established only seven years ago, and this generous donation represents a significant milestone in its growth and development. With the influx of resources from Kick’s contribution, the college is poised to enhance its educational offerings and better prepare students for the competitive landscape of business.
In addition to her contributions to education, Kick plans to extend her philanthropic efforts further, supporting various fields, including science education and entrepreneurial programs. Her commitment to fostering learning opportunities reflects her family’s legacy of encouraging education and development.
Merrilee Kick’s $30 million donation is expected to not only redefine the business college at Texas Woman’s University but also inspire countless future female entrepreneurs eager to leave their mark in the business world. As the university prepares for this new era, it looks to leverage Kick’s generosity to cultivate innovation, entrepreneurship, and success among its students.
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