Fresno State Athletic Director Garrett Klassy, Diamond Learning Center Founder and President Jami De La Cerda and Fresno State Head Football Coach Matt Entz pose for photos at a July press conference announcing the matching $1 million donation campaign. Photo by Ben Hensley

With a Fresno State appearance in the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl set for Saturday, Dec. 27, The Bulldog Foundation announced this week that it has reached a seven-figure match gift, earmarked for enhancing the foundation’s ability to invest in multiple dimensions of student-athlete education, wellbeing and more.

Earlier this year, Fresno State graduate and longtime supporter Jami Hamel De La Cerda, challenged donors at the foundation to match the $1 million gift given by De La Cerda, doubling the potential reach of the donation — the largest donation by a woman in Fresno State Athletics history.

“We are extraordinarily grateful for the generosity of our incredible donors, whose commitments will accelerate our ability to provide meaningful opportunities for Fresno State student-athletes,” Fresno State Director of Athletics Garrett Klassy said in a news release Tuesday. “This milestone reflects the passion of the Red Wave community and the belief in what our student-athletes can achieve as we prepare to compete at the Pac-12 level.”

The funds will directly support The Bulldog Foundation’s support of students’ academic support, sport-specific enhancements and its ability to recruit, retain and develop student athletes.

In addition to the matched campaign donation, an additional $1 million gift by an anonymous donor further impacted the milestone, providing the foundation support as the university’s athletic programs prepare to compete in the PAC-12 in 2026. The foundation, which celebrated its 75th anniversary this year, acts as a fundraising arm for Fresno State Athletics.

The contributions reflect an increase in philanthropic investments among the community, ranking as some of the largest in foundation history.