The University of Houston’s Kathrine G. McGovern College of the Arts has received two generous estate gifts totaling $2.8 million to benefit the Moores School of Music and School of Theatre and Dance.
Key Takeaways
- The Kathrine G. McGovern College of the Arts has received two gifts totaling $2.8 million to expand performance, research and professional opportunities.
- A $1.8 million gift from the estate of Helen Bloxsom Davis will establish an endowed professorship and a distinguished scholars endowment in the Moores School of Music.
- An estate bequest estimated at $1 million from David H. Lake will create the David Lake Fund for Artistry and Innovation, an endowment in the School of Theatre and Dance.
The University of Houston’s Kathrine G. McGovern College of the Arts has received two generous estate gifts totaling $2.8 million — transformational contributions that will further elevate the University’s arts education, strengthen its connection to Houston’s cultural ecosystem and expand meaningful professional opportunities for students and faculty.
A $1.8 million gift from the estate of Helen Bloxsom Davis will establish two permanent endowments within the Moores School of Music, cementing a profound family legacy dedicated to fostering artistic excellence for generations to come:
- The Helen Bloxsom Davis Endowed Professorship: Designed to champion world-class faculty support, this endowment will fund a prestigious faculty position, ensuring the Moores School continues to attract and retain premier artistic leadership.
- The Helen Bloxsom Davis Distinguished Scholars Endowment: Beginning in fall 2027, this fund will open doors of student opportunity, providing critical scholarship support for high-achieving music students to bolster recruitment and retention.
The late Helen Bloxsom Davis and her husband, Jeremy Davis, were dedicated patrons of the Moores School of Music, spending decades supporting Houston’s arts landscape. This gift translates their lifelong passion into a permanent foundation.
A $1.8 million gift from the estate of Helen Bloxsom Davis will establish two permanent endowments within the Moores School of Music.
To maximize the impact of the scholarship endowment, UH will match the annual scholarship funding it generates dollar-for-dollar through 2031. Combined with the endowed professorship, these investments will strengthen faculty excellence, expand student recruitment and success, and elevate the national profile of the Moores School of Music.
“Endowed chairs and professorships are the single most important source of support for the research and creative agendas of our world-class faculty, just as endowed scholarship funds are the single most important source of support for our students,” said Andrew Davis, dean of the Kathrine G. McGovern College of the Arts. “Helen Davis and her family shared this vision with us.”
Alongside this gift, an estate bequest estimated at $1 million from longtime arts advocate David H. Lake will establish the David Lake Fund for Artistry and Innovation, an endowment in the School of Theatre and Dance. The endowment will support innovative artistic training, community collaboration and professional development opportunities, including artist residencies and workshops, and original theater and dance works.
"I have often been inspired by creative and innovative elements in performances and wanted to help UH provide the kind of training that would help young artists think about their art in ways that go beyond the mainstream,” Lake said. “I also wanted to encourage the University to develop collaborations with Houston’s most interesting creative voices, benefiting both students at UH and the smaller, innovative companies that play a key role in Houston’s performing arts scene. My hope is that this endowment will not only benefit artists-in-training at UH but also the arts environment they will step into as graduates."
An estate bequest estimated at $1 million will establish the David Lake Fund for Artistry and Innovation. The endowment in the School of Theatre and Dance will support innovative artistic training, community collaboration and professional development opportunities.
Funding will be realized upon fulfillment of the donor’s estate plan and distributed annually.
“These two gifts show us what is possible when the college and its community of supporters share a vision for the future,” Andrew Davis said. “David Lake has long been a supporter of Houston’s most innovative work in the arts, and he recognized that support for our college’s professional training programs ensures that we create a pipeline of next-generation artists working in the city.”
Both gifts are part of UH’s Can’t Stop Houston: The Centennial Campaign, UH’s historic fundraising initiative ahead of its 100th anniversary next year.
“One of the most powerful things a donor can do is invest in a future they may never personally see,” said Russell T. Dunlavy, vice president for advancement and alumni. “Helen Bloxsom Davis believed that, and David Lake continues to demonstrate it through his commitment to the arts. Their gifts reflect a belief that the arts matter to the vitality of an entire city. Through Can’t Stop Houston: The Centennial Campaign, we are building on that spirit of generosity while creating new opportunities for those who will follow.”