Center for BrainHealth Receives $1 Million Match Gift from McRavens

The Center for BrainHealth at The University of Texas at Dallas has received a new million-dollar gift commitment from former UT System chancellor and retired Navy Adm. William McRaven and his wife, Georgeann.

Their latest $1 million challenge grant — like the previous $2 million challenge grant announced last fall — supports the Optimal BrainHealth for Warfighters program.

McRaven was a co-recipient of the 2024 Bezos Courage and Civility Award, presented by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his wife, Lauren Sánchez. The award included $50 million for McRaven to direct to the charities of his choice.

“I know that Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez are thrilled to be supporting the incredible work that the Center for BrainHealth is doing on behalf of our veterans and active-duty service members,” McRaven said. “Georgeann and I are equally honored to be partnering with you for this great cause.”

Working with active-duty military, veterans and spouses, Optimal BrainHealth for Warfighters provides critical training for proactive brain health and introduces essential tools to measure and track change over time, especially improvement. The program helps empower individuals to take charge of their brain health and performance and to build resilience ahead of training and deployment, as well as providing important tools to those with traumatic brain injury (TBI), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and similar issues.

“We thank Adm. and Mrs. McRaven for continuing to place their trust in our science-backed approach to proactive brain health and for helping us scale up our results-based experience working with all branches of the military,” said Sandra Bond Chapman PhD’86, Center for BrainHealth chief director and the Dee Wyly Distinguished University Chair for BrainHealth.

“We thank Adm. and Mrs. McRaven for continuing to place their trust in our science-backed approach to proactive brain health and for helping us scale up our results-based experience working with all branches of the military.”

Sandra Bond Chapman PhD’86, Center for BrainHealth chief director and the Dee Wyly Distinguished University Chair for BrainHealth.

Active duty and veteran warriors routinely face challenges related to the high-pressure, intense nature of their professions, including how to transition to their time off, Chapman said. Interrelated health and functional impairments can also emerge, such as the long-term effects of TBI, PTSD, sleep disturbance, chronic pain, addiction and depression, among others.

Optimal BrainHealth for Warfighters capitalizes on neuroplasticity to optimize brain performance, to build cognitive reserve before any brain-related event and to enhance resilience that helps the individual rebound more quickly.

“Military operators never stop training so they can stay physically fit and constantly ready for action,” said Jennifer Zientz, director of programs at the Center for BrainHealth. “Our brain training brings a similar, proactive approach to motivate brain fitness, with proven effectiveness.”

Funds raised have supported the hiring of three new Optimal BrainHealth for Warfighters team members:

• Kevin Gatley, operations officer. Gatley is a former Navy SEAL and Bronze Star recipient with six combat deployments.
• Colleen Ryan-Hensley, assistant operations officer. Ryan-Hensley is a former Navy Fire Controlman Aegis with three combat deployments and is a leader in fitness and training.
• Thad King, operations team. King is a former flight lead with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment and has 21 years of U.S. Special Operations Command-level expertise in planning, logistics and training operations.

In addition to the McRavens, major supporters of this initiative include Beverly and Don Freeman, Lyda Hill Philanthropies, The Eugene McDermott Foundation, Margot B. Perot, The Sarah and Ross Perot Jr. Foundation and the Jordan Spieth Family Foundation.

With the new challenge grant, the Center for BrainHealth will raise funds for this latest match through July 31, 2026.