Wake Forest Announces $5,000,000 Commitment to Men’s Basketball by Alumnus and Trustee Mit Shah (‘91)

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – In the sustained effort to be A Model Intercollegiate Athletics Program and ensure Wake Forest is providing a World Class Student-Athlete Experience, Mit Shah and his family have generously made yet another transformational gift to the Demon Deacons Men's Basketball program.

The Shah family made this latest multimillion-dollar commitment in the spring of 2023 and authorized the University to announce it this week. This gift focuses on intensifying Wake Forest's strategic pursuit of basketball excellence in a highly competitive landscape and provides head coach Steve Forbes and his staff a broader means to invest in Wake's student-athlete experience, sports performance, medicine and wellness, innovation, and advanced technology. Mit's latest commitment is designed to inspire the investments of many other loyal Deacon fans as a call to action for Wake Forest Basketball.

Previously, Mit Shah provided the lead investment for the $12 million Shah Basketball Complex and helped drive the creation of the Chris Paul Family Men's Basketball Clubhouse. The Shah Basketball Complex is renowned as one of America's foremost practice, training, and player development facilities, featuring 40,000 state-of-the-art square feet dedicated solely to Wake Forest Basketball.

"Mit is a great friend and an unparalleled supporter of Wake Forest Basketball and the mission of Wake Forest University," said head men's basketball coach Steve Forbes. "I am incredibly grateful to him and all our donors who have contributed to our program's on-and-off the court success, including the ways they provide Name, Image, and Likeness opportunities for our players, such as through the Roll the Quad collective, as well as the overall goals for our program. Our loyal supporters, led by Mit, have helped us provide a vision for our student-athletes that at Wake Forest, we can help change your life through the power of a top-tier education in the best basketball conference in the country. As we continue our journey to be one of the elite programs in college basketball, we need Deacon Nation's continued support of our student-athletes, and ongoing presence at the Joel to cheer on these outstanding young men."

Shah's investment is immediately energizing the fan experience and atmosphere at the Joel with an enriched Wake Forest student experience, a raucous new super-fan section for our local community, the upcoming Tye-Dye Nation game, and more enhancements to come.

"Our students are a vital part of our home court advantage, and we have moved them even closer to the action by expanding the student section courtside," said Executive Associate AD Barry Faircloth. "With Mit's help, and in collaboration with VP for Campus Life Dr. Shea Kidd Brown and Executive Director of Student Engagement Tim Wilkinson and other campus partners, we will soon be unveiling an exciting premium hospitality club at the Joel for our students.

"Additionally, a select group of our most enthusiastic Demon Deacons from Winston Salem and throughout the Triad now comprise a super-fan section across the court from our students, helping create one of the most intimidating atmospheres in college basketball. Applications for this opportunity can be found here."

Mit's gift also includes the creation of the endowed "Shah Family Men's Basketball Scholarship," which will forever link the Shah Family with a player on the Men's Basketball team.

About Mit Shah ('91)
Shah is the founder and CEO of Noble Investment Group, an award-winning real estate investment manager specializing in the travel and hospitality sector. Noble has made over $6 billion in hotel investments, creating thousands of jobs across America.

Shah, part owner of the NBA's Atlanta Hawks, credits Wake Forest with having a meaningful influence on his life. He said the University's longstanding promise to student and student-athlete development continues to inspire his support. He believes our basketball program brings our community together and provides invaluable exposure to Wake Forest, Winston Salem, Forsyth County, and the entire Piedmont Triad region.

Shah is one of the founders and a member of the board of directors for Roll the Quad, which is a Proud Partner of Wake Forest Athletics. Visit www.RollTheQuad.com for more information.

Arriving at Wake Forest in 1987, Mit competed as a walk-on for the Men's Tennis team. While a student, he was also an employee at Graylyn, gaining valuable experience while pursuing his academic degree in Economics and Sociology, a foundation he has utilized to achieve extraordinary professional success.

Shah has been profiled in Newsweek magazine as one of the most influential South Asians in the United States, named as one of Atlanta's most admired CEOs, and one of the 21st century's most influential hospitality and travel industry leaders. He was named Executive of the Year by Penn State University and was honored by the UJA Federation of New York in recognition of his professional and philanthropic achievements.

Shah is an active supporter of educational objectives and is serving his fifth term as a member of the Board of Trustees for Wake Forest University.

Mit and his wife, Reshma, live in Atlanta, Georgia, and have two adult children, Arjun and Roshni.

What They're Saying About Mit Shah's Gift

Wake Forest University President Susan R. Wente, Ph.D.:
- "Mit Shah's personal story, generous spirit, and passion for excellence continue to inspire the Wake Forest community, and today's announcement is further evidence of that commitment. As a valued member of our Board of Trustees, I am grateful for Mit's outspoken leadership and foresight to help propel our University forward in a multitude of ways. Specifically, his efforts to help Coach Steve Forbes, our men's basketball student-athletes, and that entire program continues to inspire us all."
Wake Forest Men's Basketball Head Coach Steve Forbes:
- "During my tenure as our head coach, along with President Wente and John Currie, no one has supported our pursuit of on-and-off-court success for our student-athletes, more than Mit Shah. We are forever grateful for all he and his family continue to do for me, my family, my staff, our student-athletes, Wake Forest University, and this community, which is his hometown."
Director of Athletics John Currie:
- "Any transformational movement must have a leader with vision, determination, and a relentless passion that paves the way to make success possible. Mit Shah is that special leader for Wake Forest basketball, with incredible engagement and sacrificial generosity, which has inspired others to join in the restoration of Demon Deacons men's basketball to the level of prominence and success befitting its heritage. Whether elevating and driving the vision that led to the creation of the Shah Basketball Complex, the premier facility in all of college basketball, or reigniting our grassroots Winston-Salem basketball passion with the rebirth of Tie-Dye Nation, Mit is the consummate servant leader for our University. Game-by-game and night-by-night, we witness the movement growing and the engagement of Wake fans and students to levels not seen in over a decade. Coach Steve Forbes, President Susan R. Wente, Ph.D., myself, and all of Deacon Nation are grateful for Mit's leadership."

Supporting Wake Forest Athletics

The Wake Forest Athletics Excellence Funds program was launched in 2018 as an avenue for alumni, family, and friends to directly impact a specific program of their choice through a budget-enhancing gift specifically to that program. Join Mit and Reshma in their support of the Men's Basketball program!

Wake Forest Athletics

Wake Forest Announces $5,000,000 Commitment to Men’s Basketball by Alumnus and Trustee Mit Shah (‘91)

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