Texas Woman’s University (TWU) has announced a record-breaking $30 million gift from alumna Merrilee Kick, founder and CEO of the beverage company BuzzBallz. The donation, the largest in the university’s history, will significantly enhance the College of Business, including funding for an institute focused on innovation and entrepreneurship, an endowed chair, and an entrepreneur-in-residence program. The college is expected to be renamed the Merrilee Alexander Kick College of Business and Entrepreneurship in her honor.
The announcement was made during a meeting of TWU’s governing board, which is set to approve the college’s new name later this week. The gift will also accelerate plans for constructing a new building for the college, a major development in the university’s ongoing expansion efforts.
TWU Chancellor Carine Feyten expressed her gratitude, emphasizing the importance of the gift in highlighting the contributions of women in business. “This gift affords us an opportunity to shine a huge light on the innovation and business acumen women bring to the table in our globally competitive economy,” Feyten said. “Merrilee Kick is a shining example of our pioneering spirit.”
Business College Dean Rama Yelkur echoed these sentiments, noting that the gift will elevate the college’s impact on business education. “The Merrilee Alexander Kick College of Business and Entrepreneurship will undoubtedly add greater value and visibility, significantly amplifying our mission and impact on the future of business education,” Yelkur stated.
Kick, who earned her MBA from TWU in 2009, credited her education at the university with helping her develop the business plan that led to the creation of BuzzBallz, which has grown into a billion-dollar company. “My MBA from TWU enabled me to write a solid business plan for what became BuzzBallz,” Kick said. “As a former educator and child of educators, teaching the next generation is important for our future.”
The $30 million gift also pushes TWU over its Dream Big comprehensive campaign goal of $125 million, nearly two years ahead of schedule. The university plans to continue its fundraising efforts, focusing on high-priority initiatives such as health sciences, athletics, and the expansion of its Dallas campus.
Kick sold BuzzBallz to Sazerac, the world’s largest privately held spirits company, in May, though she remains the company’s CEO.