When Kevin Faciane ’90 and his young grandson, Brooks, headed for a TCU soccer match, they expected a fun afternoon together. But when they experienced the added bonus of stepping onto the field at Garvey-Rosenthal Stadium before the game, they didn’t fully anticipate how meaningful it would be to walk out to the referees, give high-fives and present the match ball. 

After the game, Faciane sent a note to the TCU Frog Club staff.  

“Brooks had a blast and will remember this experience for a long time,” he wrote. “I appreciate the thoughtfulness that went into these ‘Memories’ and compliment the Frog Club for your creativity and attention to detail. Great job.” 

That message was more than a thank you — it was validation of a new idea taking root at TCU. 

Launched this fall, Make a Memory is transforming how Frog Club engages its most loyal supporters. For years, donors received traditional recognition gifts like shirts, tumblers and other branded items as tokens of appreciation. Now, they receive something far more personal: experiences that connect them directly to the student-athletes, coaches and programs their donations make possible.

A father and son shared a behind-the-scenes look at a men’s basketball practice. A family took their young girls for a day at the TCU Equestrian stables. Donors stepped onto the field for the coin toss under the lights at Amon G. Carter Stadium. 

“Overall, I think you are on to something here, and, as always, I’m proud to be a Horned Frog,” wrote Faciane, a former TCU soccer player. 

Alex Yack, deputy athletics director for development, said that’s exactly what they were going for.  

“We wanted to create something that connects and engages our loyal Frog Club donors to TCU Athletics on a deeper level,” he said.  

The result is combining two pillars of the university’s Strategic Plan: Community Engagement and Athletics.  

“The Frog Club Loyalty Giving team, led by Nick Parsons, was the architect behind this new approach, with John Sniffen working to shepherd these experiences, and Allie Weber bringing the story to life through meaningful, emotional storytelling,” Yack said. “Make a Memory moves beyond transactional benefits to deliver transformational experiences that celebrate the impact our supporters have on our student-athletes, coaches and the entire TCU community.” 

TCU is not following the standard playbook; it is writing a new one. 

Learn more about Make a Memory.