Big Blue Legacy: Karl-Anthony Towns Establishes Groundbreaking Scholarship Endowment for Future Wildcats
Lexington, KY — April 11, 2025
In a heartfelt and historic gesture that bridges past triumphs with future dreams, NBA All-Star and Kentucky basketball legend Karl-Anthony Towns has announced the creation of the “Jacqueline Cruz-Towns Wildcat Promise Endowment”—a multi-million-dollar scholarship fund aimed at supporting young, underprivileged students who dream of donning the Kentucky blue and white.
Towns, who spent one electrifying season under Coach John Calipari during the 2014–2015 campaign, returned to Lexington this week in front of a roaring Rupp Arena crowd to unveil the scholarship program—one of the largest ever established by a former Kentucky athlete.
“This is Home”
Choked with emotion, Towns addressed the gathered students, faculty, players, and fans from center court.
“Kentucky didn’t just prepare me for the NBA—it gave me a family, a foundation, and a purpose. This place shaped me. And now, I want it to do the same for kids who just need a chance,” he said, his voice echoing through the rafters of Rupp Arena.
Towns dedicated the endowment to his late mother, Jacqueline Cruz-Towns, whose memory has been a guiding force in his off-court philanthropy since her passing in 2020 due to COVID-19 complications.
“She always believed in giving, in lifting people up. So this scholarship isn’t just about basketball—it’s about believing in someone’s potential, even when the world doesn’t see it yet,” he said, fighting back tears.
The Details
The Jacqueline Cruz-Towns Wildcat Promise Endowment will start with an initial donation of $5 million from Towns, with an open pledge to grow the fund annually. The scholarship will prioritize:
- First-generation college students
- Low-income families in Kentucky and the Dominican Republic
- Young athletes committed to both academic and athletic excellence
- Students pursuing careers in sports medicine, education, and community leadership
The fund will support tuition, room and board, books, and even off-season travel for internships or training, offering full-ride support to at least 15 students per academic year.
“This isn’t just for the next Karl Towns,” he clarified. “It’s for the future coaches, trainers, educators, and leaders who will shape the game and the world around it.”
Calipari Reacts: “That’s What This Program Is About”
Head coach John Calipari, who sat beside Towns during the announcement, was visibly moved.
“We preach servant leadership here, and Karl is living it. What he’s doing—this isn’t a headline. This is a legacy. This is the kind of moment that changes lives for generations.”
Calipari added that Towns’ gift is not only about financial aid—it’s about empowering a mindset in the Kentucky program.
“Every recruit, every Wildcat who walks through that tunnel is going to see what Karl’s done. He’s setting a bar—on the court, and off.”
Wildcat Family Reacts
Across social media and campus, the announcement sparked an outpouring of gratitude from Kentucky students, alumni, and athletes.
Devin Booker, Towns’ former Kentucky teammate and current NBA star, tweeted: “That’s love. Big Blue just got even bigger. Proud of you, my brother.”
Tyrese Maxey, another UK-to-NBA product, chimed in: “Bro just changed the game for some kid out there. Wildcat for life.”
Students gathered in front of the William T. Young Library hours after the announcement, holding signs that read “Thank You, KAT” and “Once a Wildcat, Always a Wildcat.”
Bigger Than Basketball
Beyond basketball, the endowment speaks to a broader mission Karl-Anthony Towns has embraced: creating equitable access to opportunity.
He’s already spearheading the construction of a basketball and education complex in the Dominican Republic and continues to support causes related to COVID-19 recovery, mental health, and racial equity in sports.
With this new scholarship, his impact hits even closer to the hardwood where it all began.
“My dream was to wear Kentucky blue. Some kid out there has the same dream—but maybe no way to chase it. This scholarship is for them,” Towns said.
Looking Ahead
UK President Dr. Eli Capilouto confirmed that a new wing of the university’s Center for Academic and Athletic Excellence will be named in Towns’ honor. A bronze plaque will soon hang outside the Joe Craft Center reading:
“In honor of Karl-Anthony Towns – A Wildcat who gave more than he ever took.”
Construction is also underway for a mentorship lounge—a student-athlete learning space that Towns hopes will be a “safe haven and inspiration zone” for scholarship recipients.
And as the next batch of future Wildcats come through Kentucky’s storied doors, they’ll know that someone who once stood exactly where they are now has left them a gift beyond measure—a gift born not just of fame or fortune, but of heart, heritage, and home.
Final Words
“You don’t need to be here four years to be family forever,” Towns said, eyes scanning the arena that made him a star. “I’m just getting started.”
Big Blue Nation, meet the next chapter of Karl-Anthony Towns: not just a player, but a patron of dreams.
