$12 million gift in support of women’s sports from Rebecca Graham Paul

Butler Athletics is set to receive the largest documented donation in school history, a gift aimed at supporting its women’s athletic programs on National Girls and Women in Sports Day.

Butler trustee Rebecca Graham Paul, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in 1970 and earned her master’s in 1975, will gift $12 million, with the majority of the gift designated to support 12 women’s athletic programs, including cheerleading and dance teams.

“When the gift is received at her passing (it’s largely an estate gift), the annual funds that come from it would be used at the AD’s discretion to support women’s athletics,” a spokesperson said.

Paul’s gift will establish the Rebecca Graham Paul Athletics Leadership Academy Endowed Fund, which will provide leadership programming for Butler athletes. The commitment will be funded largely through her estate. Paul is also launching the Fund for Women’s Athletics Excellence and Athletics Leadership Academy activities through a current-use gift that will allow today’s athletes to benefit from the support.

Paul is the president and CEO of the Tennessee Education Lottery Corporation and the immediate past president of the World Lottery Association. She also led Illinois, Florida, and Georgia lotteries, establishing three of the four she’s worked for. She has served on the Butler Board of Trustees since 2019.

“I was a gymnast and physical education major at Butler in an era when women had limited career opportunities,” Paul said. “Butler taught me to think strategically, to have confidence, and to pursue any opportunity I wanted.”

College athletics has drastically changed over the past five years, with name, image, likeness, and revenue-sharing, which could start as early as July. The challenges to keep up with facilities and manage rosters are ever-changing, but Paul’s gift will help the Bulldogs compete and develop leaders.

“Rebecca’s incredible generosity and leadership will benefit Butler student-athletes for decades to come,” athletic director Grant Leiendecker said. “Her passion for developing women leaders through sport is inspiring, and we could not be more grateful for her support. This commitment comes at a time when the funding model of intercollegiate athletics is under immense pressure. Rebecca’s support will make a transformational impact on Butler Athletics and the development of future Bulldog leaders.”

The gift will be celebrated during an on-court recognition with Paul in attendance at Hinkle Fieldhouse during the men’s basketball game Feb. 8 against Providence and during the women’s basketball game Feb. 9 against Marquette.

A portion of Paul’s gift will also establish the Terry Paul ’68 Memorial College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Endowed Scholarship in memory of Paul’s late husband, who earned his master’s degree from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in 1968. The scholarship will support a political science major.

“We are deeply grateful to Rebecca Graham Paul for her extraordinary generosity and steadfast commitment to Butler University,” Butler President James Danko said.

“Her transformational gift will not only elevate our women’s athletics programs but also inspire future generations of female student-athletes to excel both on and off the field of play. As a proud alumna, Rebecca’s leadership reflects the very best of Butler’s engaged and successful alumni base, and her dedication will leave a lasting legacy of opportunity and excellence.”