Donor Stories
Mark Teixeira
Mark Teixeira’s heart is as big as his swing. Among the most heralded baseball players in Yellow Jacket history, Teixeira, Class of 2002, has made a commitment that will fully endow a baseball scholarship at Tech. With his commitment, the New York Yankees’ power-hitting first baseman established the Mark C. Teixeira Athletic Scholarship Fund, which will provide a significant boost to the baseball program and bring Georgia Tech one step closer to reaching its goal of fully endowing all athletic scholarships.
Teixeira, who was named the national freshman of the year in 1999 and national college player of the year in 2000, has always been passionate about the power of philanthropy. Since leaving Tech as a first-round draft pick of the Texas Rangers, he has consistently given generously to athletics—in particular Georgia Tech’s strength and conditioning program and the golf team—as well as the College of Management. And while Teixeira also supports local community organizations and his alma mater, Mount Saint Joseph High School in Baltimore, he says that Tech “is at the top of my list” when it comes to giving.
He knows firsthand the value of scholarships, having received full support during his years at Tech. “One of the reasons I came here was that I had a full scholarship,” Teixeira explains. “This gift was a no-brainer, now that I am in a position to do something significant.”
The Institute seeks to fully endow twelve baseball scholarships. Teixeira hopes that his commitment will inspire other former Tech student-athletes to follow his lead in giving back to a program and a university that were so integral to his professional success.
A Yellow Jacket standout with a career batting average of .409, Teixeira was also an outstanding student who received first-team Academic All-America honors. And now he is excited about making a difference for Tech baseball. “I hope that my gift will help the program become even more competitive, which in turn helps the entire athletics program and the Institute. Maybe we’ll produce a couple more first-round draft picks,” he jokes.
Teixeira and his wife, Leigh Williams Teixeira, ID 2001, still make time in their busy schedules to return to campus regularly, whether to take in a baseball game, meet the players, or watch Yellow Jacket football.
“I spent some of the best years of my life at Georgia Tech,” says Teixeira. “It was a springboard to my career, and I want to be part of Tech’s future.”
