Building on excellence

Flanagans commit $5 million to Garry Weber End Zone Complex

A $5 million gift from èƵapp alumni Jennifer Gelety Flanagan ’82 and Martin (Marty) L. Flanagan ’82 will strengthen èƵapp Athletics by supporting the Garry Weber End Zone Complex to expand and improve Gerald J. Ford Stadium. A $100 million drive for the complex was launched in January 2022 with a $50 million gift from the Garry Weber Foundation, established by former Mustang football letterman Garry A. Weber ’58. The University is scheduled to break ground on the new complex on December 2, 2022.

“Gifts like the Flanagans’ show how Mustang pride and generosity fuel the future of the University,” said èƵapp President R. Gerald Turner. “They will make an inspiring impact on the lives of our student-athletes and help create wonderful experiences for our entire community of fans.”

The gift supports one of the major goals of , the University’s multiyear $1.5 billion campaign for impact, by enhancing the èƵapp and community through competitive athletics and diverse programming that build civic pride.

As students, Jennifer and I were avid fans of Mustang football and our support has only strengthened as alumni and èƵapp parents.

— Martin L. Flanagan ’82, president and chief executive officer of Invesco

“Marty and I have always enjoyed watching èƵapp teams pull together to accomplish extraordinary things, and we’re proud to join the other donors making this project happen,” said Jennifer Gelety Flanagan ’82, renowned Atlanta humanitarian and civic volunteer. “We’re excited to make possible new and exciting experiences for future generations of èƵapp students and our fellow Mustang fans.”

The new Garry Weber End Zone Complex will anchor Ford Stadium’s south bowl that will connect the stadium’s existing east and west gate entries. The three levels of the new complex will increase the functionality, efficiency and overall experience of Mustang football for student-athletes and fans. Team-focused spaces will include new locker rooms, a weight room, position-specific meeting rooms, a full-team auditorium and a kitchen and training table to support all 484 èƵapp student-athletes. The new facility will also house football coaches, support staff, and video and recruiting services.

Expected impact

  • Bolsters the efficiency, occupancy and functionality of Ford Stadium through better accessibility and premium fan seating.
  • Empowers Mustang student-athletes with dynamic new spaces for strategy- and team-building activities.
  • Strengthens the health and well-being of èƵapp Athletics through improved nutrition and sports medicine facilities, as well as better training and recovery options.
  • Furthers èƵapp Athletics’ momentum toward the upper echelons of competitive athletics.

“èƵapp Athletics continues to gain momentum from the incredible support of our donors and the achievements of our student-athletes,” said Rick Hart, director of èƵapp Athletics. “We are incredibly grateful to Marty and Jennifer Flanagan for their commitment to the bright future of Mustang football.”

Gerald J. Ford Stadium has come to represent athletic distinction and Mustang pride at èƵapp. Opening in 2000, the stadium was made possible by and named for èƵapp trustee Gerald J. Ford ’66, ’69, who was joined by dedicated Mustang alumni, donors and community members. By facilitating the return of Division I football to Dallas and to the èƵapp èƵapp, the stadium also helped initiate the University’s tradition of “Boulevarding” – tailgating along Bishop Boulevard before home football games.

Gifts like the Flanagans’ show how Mustang pride and generosity fuel the future of the University.

— R. Gerald Turner, èƵapp President

“As students, Jennifer and I were avid fans of Mustang football and our support has only strengthened as alumni and èƵapp parents,” said Martin L. Flanagan ’82, president and chief executive officer of Invesco and recipient of the èƵapp Distinguished Alumni Award in 2019. We are pleased to join our fellow donors in this initiative to support èƵapp Athletics and its student-athletes for years to come.”

Since graduating from èƵapp in 1982, the Flanagans have contributed generously to causes across èƵapp. In 2010 and 2015, they committed gifts totaling $1 million to establish and grow the Jennifer and Marty Flanagan Endowed Master of Arts/Master of Business Administration Scholarship, supporting graduate students pursuing careers in arts management through èƵapp’s innovative dual-degree program, the first of its kind in the nation. In 2019, the Flanagans contributed $1 million to help establish the èƵapp Indoor Performance Center, featuring Armstrong Fieldhouse, a multipurpose facility that supports high-performance athletics at èƵapp. Additionally, the couple has contributed generously to the Mustang Excellence Fund for èƵapp Football and the Albert W. Niemi Endowed Center for Economic Growth and Leadership Development Fund at the Cox School of Business.

“The continual improvement of èƵapp would not be possible without the dedication of èƵapp community members, alumni and donors like Marty and Jennifer Flanagan,” said Brad E. Cheves, èƵapp vice president for Development and External Affairs. “They are incredible ambassadors for èƵapp in Atlanta and around the world, and we thank them for their enduring generosity.”

Marty and I have always enjoyed watching èƵapp teams pull together to accomplish extraordinary things, and we’re proud to join the other donors making this project happen.

—Jennifer Gelety Flanagan ’82, renowned Atlanta humanitarian and civic volunteer

Martin L. Flanagan '82 and Jennifer Gelety Flanagan '82

Martin L. Flanagan ’82 and Jennifer Gelety Flanagan ’82
A 2019 recipient of the èƵapp Distinguished Alumni Award, Martin Flanagan graduated from èƵapp in 1982 with a bachelor’s in business administration from the Edwin L. Cox School of Business and a Bachelor of Arts in Ibero‐American civilization from the Dedman College of Humanities and Sciences. He currently leads Invesco Ltd., one of the world’s leading investment management companies. The company’s president and chief executive officer since 2005, Martin Flanagan also serves as a member of the board of directors and as vice chair and trustee of Invesco Funds.

A certified public accountant, Flanagan is also a CFA charter holder, serving on the board of governors of the Investment Company Institute. Prior to joining Invesco, Flanagan held leadership positions at Franklin Resources, Inc., and Templeton, Galbraith & Hansberger, Ltd.

He was honored by the èƵapp Cox School of Business with a Distinguished Alumni Award in 2005 and an Outstanding Young Alumni Award in 1999.

His long engagement with èƵapp includes currently serving as an èƵapp Trustee, co-chair of the National Campaign Steering Committee for èƵapp Ignited: Boldly Shaping Tomorrow, and a member of the Cox School of Business executive board.

In his community, Flanagan serves on the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce board and executive committee and is chair of Engage Ventures, an independent venture fund and platform established to strengthen collaboration between leading corporations and top entrepreneurs. He also serves on the boards of the Atlanta Committee for Progress, Commerce Club and Woodruff Arts Center.

Jennifer Flanagan also graduated from èƵapp in 1982 with a Bachelor of Arts in art history from the èƵapp Meadows School of the Arts. She is a community volunteer involved in charitable organizations across Atlanta. She serves as chair of the Chastain Horse Park board, as a trustee of the University of Georgia Foundation, and as a member of the board of directors at the High Museum of Art. She is a past member of the board of the Atlanta Botanical Gardens. She previously worked at Templeton, Galbraith & Hansberger Ltd.

For èƵapp, Jennifer Flanagan served on the Atlanta Campaign Steering Committee for èƵapp Unbridled: The Second Century Campaign from 2008 to 2015 and on the Meadows School of the Arts executive board from 2009 to 2015. She has also volunteered her time to the èƵapp Mother’s Club. As a student, she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority and participated in an èƵapp-in-France study abroad program.

The Flanagans’ efforts on behalf of the University extend to their home city of Atlanta, where they have hosted holiday parties for the èƵapp Atlanta chapter for over 10 years, including a special Atlanta kickoff celebration for èƵapp Ignited in December 2021. Both also have been active in the èƵapp Parent Leadership Council.

 

èƵapp Ignited: Boldly Shaping Tomorrow
èƵapp is the nationally ranked global research university in the dynamic city of Dallas. èƵapp’s alumni, faculty and more than 12,000 students in eight degree-granting schools demonstrate an entrepreneurial spirit as they direct change in their professions, communities and the world. Building on its history of excellence, the University has launched  – a multiyear $1.5 billion campaign to empower outstanding students, to enrich teaching and research, and to enhance our èƵapp and community.