ARC’s Tommy Brigham Plays Role in UAB Football Fundraising Efforts

They call themselves the Gang of Seven. Formally known as The UAB Athletics Campaign Committee, the group is made up of seven local Birmingham business leaders who believe a strong UAB athletics program is vital for the thriving city of Birmingham.

Hatton Smith, CEO emeritus of Royal Cup Coffee & Tea, partnered with the Blazer Boosters, the fundraising team for UAB Athletics, to form the Committee with the goal of raising additional funds for the athletics program and its facilities.

The Committee included our own ARC Chairman, Tommy Brigham, along with Justin Craft, Mike Goodrich Jr., Miller Gorrie, Craft O’Neal and Robert Simon.

According to a UAB press release, the Committee has helped raise over $20 million to date for the new Football Operations Center and Legacy Pavilion, which includes a substantial personal donation pledge from the Gang of Seven to kick-start the fundraising. In the last 15 months, the UAB Dept. of Athletics has raised over $40 million.

“The UAB Athletics Campaign Committee’s impact on Blazer Football and the entire Department of Athletics has been unprecedented,” UAB Director of Athletics Mark Ingram said in the release. “Their passion and dedication has not only impacted UAB, but it has reenergized the entire city of Birmingham. Blazer Athletics is poised to reach new heights. The Campaign Committee and our countless donors have been very instrumental in this initiative.”

We are proud to say that our Chairman, Tommy Brigham has been so closely involved in such an important event in Birmingham’s history.

“Success in athletics has proven to be a key component in the growth of undergraduate and graduate enrollment,” Tommy said. “For every 1,000 students at UAB, there is an economic impact of $50 million annually, so from our standpoint, we are creating a new economy for Birmingham.”

The groundbreaking ceremony for the Football Operations Center and Legacy Pavilion will be held on Aug. 29 at 9 a.m. This will be followed at 7 p.m. by the Green and Gold Game on the UAB campus at BBVA Compass Field.