Following the program and announcement that TCU surpassed the Lead On Campaign’s $1 billion gifting goal, alumni, students, university leaders and donors gathered for a reception where TCU Neeley School of Business senior Hailey Torres, startup business owner of Daisy & Co. Boutique, represented the entrepreneurial spirit supported by generous donors.
October 18, 2023
By Winter Harris
Influential student leaders, alumni, faculty, staff and donors gathered earlier this month to celebrate the university’s official completion of the university’s ambitious, four-year philanthropic gifting campaign, Lead On.
TCU surpassed the $1 billion gifting goal through the generous support of 57,000 donors, and hosted a celebration event to recognize the impact on students, faculty leaders and global impact.
Hailey Torres, a senior in the TCU Neeley School of Business majoring in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, was one of the select students with a display at the event reception to showcase her business – Daisy & Co. Boutique -, and share her story of achievement.
Torres credits the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation with providing program opportunities to support the launch of her business, in particular the Shaddock Marketplace, an on-campus marketplace where she and other student business startups display and sell their products.
“The institute has really helped me do something that I have never done, even with my classes. Through events like Shaddock Marketplace, I have learned how to market, how to finance,” Torres said. “I love learning skills that connect to my major and prepared me to launch my own business.”
The Lead On campaign celebration capped the finale week commemorating 150 years. TCU Chancellor Victor Boschini and President Daniel Pullin led the program and highlighted accomplishments of the university and individual colleges from the last 150 years, and acknowledged the start of a new era for TCU with the assistance of the Lead On campaign.
The Lead On campaign launched four years ago with the goal of $1 billion in philanthropic investment to continue to advance funding for the TCU community and programs as well as increasing the university’s endowment. Co-chairs and TCU Trustees Ron Parker and Dee J. Kelley made the official announcement that the university’s goal had been accomplished.
Parker, who also serves on the Neeley Board of Advisors, received a standing ovation as he described his passion and motivation for the campaign.
“A lot of times, we talk about the ‘secret sauce.’ The secret sauce is this community, and it is showed by the work that was seen in this Lead On campaign,” said Parker.
The invite-only event featured TCU Neeley School of Business students from various areas on campus. From student athletes who have made TCU and national history, to becoming global leaders through study abroad programs, the promotional video highlighted the diverse perspectives and experiences of numerous student trailblazers from the Neeley School of Business.
Current students and passionate alumni shared their reasons for choosing TCU and wanting to pour back into the community.
Charity Ketu, a sophomore majoring in Business Information Systems and member of the Neeley Fellows program, said she was most excited to hear from the alumni and donors about their experience at TCU and how it prompted them to give back.
“As a Neeley student we are exposed to a lot of notable alumni and opportunities through the Neeley Fellows program. It helps me to be inspired by challenge, by excellence and I am excited to learn more and get involved,” said Ketu.
