Fresno State Athletics and the Bulldog Foundation announced on July 11 the commitment of a $1 million gift from the Diamond Learning Center and Jami Hamel De La Cerda. The donation will directly support football operational needs, ensuring the development, retention, and recruitment of football student-athletes at Fresno State.

“This is about empowering our coaches and student-athletes with the tools to compete and win — not just today, but for years to come,” said Garrett Klassy, Fresno State’s director of Athletics. “Jami’s gift is transformational. It embodies everything we believe in at Fresno State — community, grit and belief in something bigger than yourself. It kickstarts a bold new era for Bulldog athletics.”

The gift from Hamel De La Cerda marks the largest single gift by a woman in Fresno State Athletics history, setting the tone for future philanthropic leadership across the Valley.

Hamel De La Cerda is the founder and president of Fresno’s Diamond Learning Center, which recently opened a newly expanded 60,000-square-foot facility in Clovis. The center is a groundbreaking space for individuals with intellectual disabilities — a mission rooted in compassion, lifelong learning and empowerment.

“We believe so much in creating partnerships with our community, in turn we all benefit” Hamel De La Cerda said. “The Diamond Learning Center is a lifelong learning environment where we embrace who you are, where you are. The goal is a productive and safe adult life.”

Fresno State also announced the launch of the Valley Co-Op, a coach-led giving model rooted in the agricultural values of the Central Valley — shared investment, shared responsibility and shared success. Just like farmers join forces to lift each other up, the Valley Co-Op unites the Red Wave to help coaches invest in the recruitment, development and retention of student-athletes.

For more information and the full story, visit gobulldogs.com.

(Story by Savannah Stoeckle)