UTHealth Houston and its community members were honored with three National Philanthropy Day Awards by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Greater Houston Chapter. The awards, presented during an annual luncheon on November 13, recognize outstanding fundraising achievements and commitment to societal improvement.
The university's "Many Faces. One Mission." campaign received the award for Outstanding Fundraising Program for initiatives exceeding $2 million. LaTanya Love, MD, executive vice president of Student and University Affairs, accepted the award alongside UTHealth Houston Development Board Chair Maria Pappas. The campaign, noted as the largest in UTHealth Houston history, raised over $534 million, surpassing its $500 million goal. It has supported advancements in health education, research, and patient care.
"Our future is bright," Love stated. "This campaign allowed us to recruit more top-tier faculty who are here to take care of our patients and train our students. It allowed for endowed professorships. It allowed for full-ride scholarships. It also helped us develop amazing centers for research."
UTHealth Houston previously earned gold awards from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education District IV for its celebration website and "The Art of Gratitude" project. Additionally, it received two GIA Awards for Excellence from the Association of American Medical Colleges.
Kevin J. Foyle, MBA, CFRE, Senior Vice President of Development and Public Affairs at UTHealth Houston, was awarded the Byron Welch Award for Lifetime Achievement in Fundraising. Foyle's career includes significant contributions at Rice University during its Centennial campaign to raise $1 billion. Under his leadership at UTHealth Houston, annual new gift commitments more than doubled.
“To get this kind of acknowledgment — and for it to come from my peers — is humbling but powerful,” Foyle remarked about receiving the award.
Longtime supporters Laura and D. Bradley McWilliams were recognized with the Maurice Hirsch Award for Philanthropy for their substantial generosity across Greater Houston. Their contributions support health innovation and community programs such as the YMCA and Houston Grand Opera. In recognition of Bradley McWilliams' $22 million donation to UTHealth Houston, its School of Biomedical Informatics was named after him.
