On July 14, 2010, San Antonio Spurs owner Peter M. Holt issued a challenge to Texas residents to raise funds, promising, “Raise a million and I’ll match it.”  Today, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund announces that an anonymous Texas donor has contributed the final $200,000 needed to complete the challenge.  The funds raised through the Texas Challenge and Holt’s matching gift, will benefit VVMF’s campaign to build the Education Center at The Wall.

When issuing the challenge in 2010, Holt commented, “Those of us who served in Vietnam will never forget the faces of our brothers who fought and died beside us. I strongly believe we should put faces with the names on the granite wall. We also need to honor the values of military service and its importance to this great democracy of ours.”

Holt is the CEO of Holt Companies, whose holdings include the largest Caterpillar dealership in the United States. He is a Vietnam veteran, having served two years in the U.S. Army, including one tour in Vietnam. For his action in combat, he was awarded the Silver Star, three Bronze Stars and the Purple Heart.

“The Education Center has benefited immensely from Peter Holt’s leadership and generosity of the people of Texas,” said Jan C. Scruggs, Founder and President of VVMF. “Texas was the first state to pledge its support of the Education Center, when Governor Perry joined the leadership team in November 2008. Texans have never let us down.”

Under the matching grant program, Holt pledged to match any amount raised by individuals, community groups, veterans organizations or other civic entities in Texas, until his total contribution reached $1 million.

The names of 3,416 individuals from Texas are on The Wall. The Texas leadership, including Gov. Perry and Jay Kimbrough, state coordinator for the Texas grassroots campaign, has vowed to gather photos for each of them in tandem with their efforts to raise funds for the Center. With Peter Holt’s matching grant, the state of Texas is $2 million closer to reaching the goal of raising $1,000 in honor of each Texan listed on The Wall.

“It’s the right thing to do,” continued Holt. “This project is important to the future of our country, as well as to me personally. I want all of Texas—and, indeed, all of America—to know and remember.”