Gary and Barbara Bryant of Lake Mary, Florida, last month made the largest gift commitment in the history of ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ Athletics.

Once funded, their $13Β million estate gift commitment willΒ establish the Gary and Barbara Bryant Family Athletic Endowed Scholarship Fund. Annual proceeds from the endowment will provide athletic scholarship support for both men’s and women’s student-athletes at ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½.

β€œWe appreciate Gary and Barbara’s investment in our educational and athletic mission at ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½,” says Danny White, ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ vice president and director of athletics. β€œTheir family legacy at ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ will forever provide life-changing scholarship opportunities for hundreds of young men and women to pursue their academic, athletic and personal dreams through the student-athlete experience.”

β€œWe made this commitment to enable student-athletes to get an education and compete in the sport they love at our hometown university.” β€” Gary Bryant

Added Gary Bryant, β€œBarbara and I have always participated in sports and believe in the transformational, door-opening value of a college education. We made this commitment to enable student-athletes to get an education and compete in the sport they love at our hometown university. We feel very fortunate to be able to make this commitment and hope other community and alumni friends will support Orlando’s Hometown Team.”

This commitment to ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ was made in collaboration with one of ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½β€™s American Athletic Conference institutions that also announced a similar gift by the Bryant family today.

β€œIt is remarkable that Gary and Barbara have made such transformational commitments to competing intercollegiate athletic programs. In working with them over the past two years, it is clear that they hope their philanthropic leadership will inspire others at both institutions,” says Mark Wright, ΒιΆΉΣ³»­΄«Γ½ deputy athletics director and university assistant vice president for championship resources.

After many years in public accounting, Gary Bryant became the president and CEO of several life and health insurance companies in the Orlando area.Β He and his wife Barbara are avid travelers and golfers.