Mumas Give $3 Million To USF Basketball
March 26, 2008 | Men's Basketball, Women's Basketball
Initial Artist Renderings | 
Video of Public Announcement | 
Photo Gallery From Announcement
TAMPA ? USF alumni, civic leaders and local philanthropists Pam and Les Muma have given the University of South Florida athletics depa
rtment a $3 million gift as the lead effort on a Basketball Center for the men's and women's programs.
The Mumas have been long-time supporters of the University, including recognition as Iron Bull Champion Donors for their annual giving to athletics.
Pam and Les have given USF more than $6.8 million in support that will qualify for state matching grants of some $5.5 million. This gift to the basketball center will increase their USF philanthropy to $9.8 million. The total benefit to USF from Pam and Les Muma's philanthropy, to date: more than $15,300,000.
“The Muma's long history of philanthropy has positively impacted the University of South Florida in multiple areas,” said USF President Judy Genshaft. “Les and Pam have the vision required to initiate and propel a project of this magnitude. With this gift, they are enriching an already vibrant future for USF Athletics and in particular, Bulls basketball.”
The gift jump-starts the fundraising efforts to build a training center, that will be named in the honor of the Mumas.
“I want to express my sincere appreciation to Les and Pam Muma for their outstanding investment in our program,” said USF Director of Athletics Doug Woolard. “This lead gift for a Basketball Center for our men's and women's programs will change the face of USF basketball for perpetuity. A new home, including practice gyms, locker rooms, meeting room space and offices will provide the partnership our basketball student athletes deserve.
“Once completed, our coaches will present a state of the art facility to recruits that they will call home during their entire USF careers. It is this type of facility, and this type of commitment that prospective student athletes look for when committing to their future. This changes the opportunities we have in competing in the Big East, one of the most prestigious basketball conferences in America.”
The Mumas have given generously, both in Tampa Bay and Wisconsin, to support neonatology research and care. They established an endowed chair in neonatology research at USF and funded a neonatology center as a partnership between USF and its primary teaching hospital, Tampa General Hospital. They have also given significantly to USF's College of Business Administration, and are Iron Bull Champion donors to athletics, providing annual gifts of $25,000 to the Athletic Department to help underwrite scholarships and current operations costs.
"We are not only giving the lead gift for this facility, but we are also going to lead the campaign to raise the additional funds needed to complete this facility," said Muma. "My personal goal is to have the funds in place to break ground by the end of this year. We want our basketball teams to be able to call this facility home by the beginning of the 2009-10 season."
Pam and Les Muma support numerous organizations, both personally and also through their foundation, the Pamela and Leslie Muma Family Foundation, Inc. They have been donors to the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, Junior Achievement, the Wisconsin Women's Health Foundation, Blowing Rock Community Art Centre, Morton Plant Mease Foundation, Moffitt Cancer Center, and Tampa General Hospital, among others.
“Our players, my staff and I would like to personally thank Les and Pam Muma for their generosity to the basketball programs,” said USF men's basketball coach Stan Heath. “Having a basketball center is paramount to the future success of our programs. It will serve as a facility that will help us in player development, recruiting and improve our basketball teams as a whole. Les and Pam's commitment will go a long way in helping our student athletes at USF succeed. This project has been talked about for some time and Les and Pam have become the lightning rod that has enabled us to move forward.”
Les Muma is the retired Co-founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of Fiserv, Inc. He currently serves as a consultant for the company. Fiserv, Inc. (Nasdaq: FISV) provides industry leading information management systems and services to the financial industry, including transaction processing, outsourcing, business process outsourcing and software and systems solutions. The company serves more than 14,000 clients worldwide, including banks, broker-dealers, credit unions, financial planners/investment advisers, insurance companies and agents, self-insured employers, lenders and savings institutions.
“Our entire program appreciates the unbelievable generosity of Les and Pam,” said USF head women's basketball coach Jose Fernandez. “A facility of this nature will have an immediate impact on recruiting and will forever bolster our annual drive towards a Big East Championship.”
Pamela Carnes Muma graduated from Winter Haven High School and attended the University of South Florida. Pam is active in the community, serving on a number of event committees such as Women Against MS Initiative luncheon, Diabetes Association Gala, the American Cancer Society Milwaukee Ball, Milwaukee Auxiliary of the Visiting Nurse Association Summer Faire and attending many more.
This year, Junior Achievement selected Pamela Muma from more than 138,000 U.S. volunteers to win the Gold Leadership Award, the organization's highest award for volunteerism.
Les and Pam have a daughter, Lisa, who is married and lives in Charleston, South Carolina with her husband Jon and their two children, Jessica and Jonathan.
