University of New Mexico Athletics said Friday that an anonymous donation of $500,000 has established the James “Jimmy” Butler Track and Cross-Country Student Support Endowment for track and field and cross country athletes.
Butler, an assistant coach at UNM in cross country and track and field, died on Dec. 3. A celebration of life in his honor is scheduled for Jan. 21, 6 p.m. at the DoubleTree Hotel in downtown Albuquerque.
UNM said the endowment will address the “most pressing needs” for athletes in those sports — scholarships, nutrition support, non-insured medical procedures, athlete recruitment expenses, massage therapy and chiropractic treatments.