Athletic Association donates 6 million dollars to academics. UAA Donates 6 Million Dollars UAA Gives $6 Million To Academic Programs Gainesville, FL The University of Florida Athletic Association is donating $6 million to the University to support several academic programs threatened by state budget cuts, UF President Bernie Machen announced today. "Our athletics programs have had tremendous success during the past couple of years," Machen said. "It takes a great academic university to be a top athletic university." Machen announced the gift during today's UF Joint Civic Club Luncheon at the Hilton University Conference Center. The money will be used in part to pay for the continuation of the Florida Opportunity Scholars program. Offered for the second year, the scholarships pay tuition, room and board for qualified students who are the first in their family to attend a four-year university and have family income less than $40,000. The program contributed to important gains in minority enrollment over the past year. The UAA has given nearly $40 million back to the University since 1990. "The Athletic Association has a long history of donating funds back to the University to fund academic endeavors and we are pleased to be able to make this contribution today," said Athletics Director Jeremy Foley.