In a significant boost for Texas Woman’s University (TWU), Merrilee Kick, the founder and CEO of BuzzBallz, has pledged a transformative $30 million donation. Kick, who began her career as a high school teacher before establishing her billion-dollar ready-to-drink cocktail empire, is now set to make a lasting impact on her alma mater.
The generous gift, revealed during a TWU Board of Regents meeting on Thursday, will play a pivotal role in the development of the university’s College of Business. University officials have confirmed that the funds will be allocated to establish an endowed chair within the college and expedite the construction of a new business school building.
At the bustling Carrollton BuzzBallz production facility, Kick elaborated on her decision to give back. “To me, education is something I’m passionate about,” Kick shared. “My parents were teachers,” she said. “They were educators. Their parents were teachers. And if you have some money, you want to do something good with your money, right? And to me it makes sense.”
This substantial donation nearly doubles the previous record set by the Doswell Foundation’s $15 million contribution last year. Kick’s gift will also support an institute dedicated to innovation and entrepreneurship, alongside funding for an endowed chair and an entrepreneur-in-residence programme.
Kick, who recently sold BuzzBallz to Sazerac, will remain at the helm of her company for the next four years to oversee the transition into the Sazerac brand. Her contribution has capped TWU’s ambitious $125 million “Dream Big” campaign, marking the largest single donation in the university’s history.