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The Honor the Future campaign, the largest in University history, concluded in 2025, thanks to thousands of loyal supporters. Its impact on students, faculty, facilities, and research reaches across Charlottesville, Wise County, and Northern Virginia as it continues to advance the school in its third century of service to the commonwealth, nation, and world.
Generous supporters have enriched Darden on multiple fronts, from faculty excellence and research to student scholarships to master plan enhancements.
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Dedicated to empowering leaders and transforming business education
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The Darden School’s Powered by Purpose campaign achieved transformative milestones, exceeding its initial $400 million target two years early and ultimately reaching $632 million in total impact. Key achievements include:
Record-Breaking Philanthropy: Transformational gifts, including $101 million from David M. LaCross (McIntire ’74, Darden ’78) & Kathleen O. LaCross (Col ’76), $100 million from David C. Walentas (Engr ’61, with $38 million directed to Darden), and $68 million from the late Frank M. Sands Sr. (Darden ’63) and Marjorie R. Sands, fueled innovations in lifelong learning, first-generation scholarships, and AI research.
Faculty and Thought Leadership: Nearly 30 professorships have been endowed, ensuring academic excellence and pioneering research in areas like asset management and ethics in AI.
Scholarships and Access: Endowing more than 100 scholarships, launching need-based programs like AccessDarden, and attracting talent with initiatives like Oculus Fellows.
Darden Grounds Transformation: Enhanced facilities, including The Forum Hotel, the Tahija Arboretum & LaCross Botanical Gardens, the Sands Family Grounds in D.C., and new on-Grounds student housing, now under construction and set for completion in 2027.
Alumni Engagement: Unprecedented 70% alumni participation reflects the community’s commitment to advancing Darden’s mission.
Visit Darden’s Powered by Purpose campaign report to learn more.
Connecting cultures
“This business lets me share my heritage while building community.”
Beza Bisrat (Darden ’24)
Beza Bisrat’s passion for entrepreneurship and cultural connection led her to the Darden School of Business, where, with support from a Batten Institute for Entrepreneurship scholarship, Bisrat launched Ethiopian Delights, a food startup that brings the flavors and communal spirit of Ethiopian cuisine to broader audiences.
Her products, naturally gluten-free and vegan, quickly gained traction through pop-up events and online sales. Bisrat also honed her venture through Darden’s iLab Incubator and mentorship from faculty and peers.
“Food is a powerful cultural connector,” says Bisrat. “This business lets me share my heritage while building community.” Now exploring retail opportunities, she’s excited to expand Ethiopian Delights and its mission of cultural preservation and accessibility.
Sustainable impact
“I’ve always dreamed of going back with more experience and using what I’ve learned here to help my country develop in a more sustainable and impactful way.”
Isabela Batista (Darden ’25)
When Isabela Batista left her growing financial advisory business in Rio de Janeiro to attend the Darden School of Business, she wasn’t just pursuing an MBA — she was pushing her limits.
Growing up in a favela without stable housing or running water, Batista overcame significant obstacles early in life. As a recipient of a Darden School Foundation scholarship funded by alumni gifts, she’s channeling her experiences and education toward a career in renewable energy finance.
Passionate about financial literacy, Batista built her business to help small entrepreneurs and women in her community. She also volunteered with Teto Brazil, leading projects to bring running water and better housing to underserved areas. After interning with East Point Energy, Batista solidified her goal of driving sustainability through finance. She plans to return to Brazil to make a lasting impact on her country’s development.
“I’ve always dreamed of going back with more experience and using what I’ve learned here to help my country develop in a more sustainable and impactful way,” Batista said. “I feel like everything I’m doing now is building toward that.”
Rising star
“I’m so grateful to Jim and Stacy Cooper for their strong support of faculty excellence at Darden.”
Pedro Matos James A. and Stacy Cooper Bicentennial Professor of Business Administration John G. Macfarlane Family Chair Academic Director of Richard A. Mayo Center for Asset Management
Pedro Matos, an expert in asset management, corporate governance, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing, was named the James A. and Stacy Cooper Bicentennial Professor of Business Administration at the Darden School. This endowed professorship recognizes his impactful research, teaching, and leadership as academic director of the Mayo Center for Asset Management.
Since joining Darden in 2011, Matos has published extensively in top journals, with his work featured in “The Economist.” He has also earned multiple awards for research and course development and advises Darden Capital Management, a student-led organization managing $26 million.
This professorship, supported by Jim (Darden ’84) and Stacy Cooper through UVA’s Bicentennial Professors Fund, highlights their commitment to faculty excellence. “Rising stars like Pedro power the next generation of leaders and ideas,” said Jim Cooper. Matos expressed gratitude, emphasizing the role of faculty support in preparing future asset managers and advancing the Mayo Center’s global profile.
A Beacon for future leaders
“Now is the time to reinforce the values of stakeholder capitalism and cultivate a new generation of leaders who prioritize long-term value for all stakeholders—customers, employees, shareholders, communities, and the planet—over short-term profits.”
Ed Freeman Stephen E. Bachand University Professor of Business Administration Elis and Signe Olsson Professor of Business Administration Academic Director of the Institute for Business in Society
Ed Freeman, a pioneer in business ethics and the architect of stakeholder theory, was appointed the inaugural Stephen E. Bachand University Professor of Business Administration at UVA. The professorship, funded by a $10 million endowment from Steve (Darden ’63) and Phyllis Bachand with matching support from UVA’s Bicentennial Professors Fund, underscores the University’s commitment to ethical leadership.
Freeman, a Darden faculty member for more than 38 years, has reshaped global management practices by advocating for businesses to prioritize all stakeholders, not just shareholders. Darden Dean Scott Beardsley hailed Freeman’s appointment as a testament to his transformative impact, calling the chair a “beacon for future generations of ethical leaders.”
“Now is the time to reinforce the values of stakeholder capitalism and cultivate a new generation of leaders who prioritize long-term value for all stakeholders—customers, employees, shareholders, communities, and the planet—over short-term profits,” Freeman said.
The Bachands’ gift reflects their dedication to principled business education, with Steve Bachand emphasizing the urgent need for skilled, ethical leaders in today’s corporate world. This milestone also celebrates the 40th anniversary of Freeman’s groundbreaking stakeholder theory.
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