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Gabe Lee still laughs when he recalls the night a spiked volleyball sent his garlic fries flying from his hands in the middle of a game at the Stan Sheriff Center. “The ref wasn’t happy, and neither were the players,” he chuckles. But he balances that memory with a sweeter one: cradling his baby daughter Kelly Ann at her very first Rainbow Wahine volleyball match, her tiny frame dwarfed by the energy of the crowd.
Those moments – equal parts family, fun and community – capture what University of Hawai‘i Athletics has meant to Gabe (BA Economics ’80) and his spouse Shirley Lee (BA MIS ’78) for decades. The Lees have been courtside season ticket holders since the Stan Sheriff Center opened in 1994, attending countless games and building a lifetime of memories
Shirley’s love for UH sports goes back even further. As a child, she attended games at Klum Gym with her parents, Howard and Laiquan Dang, who were passionate UH fans. “My parents were big UH Bow supporters,” she recalls. “Going to games was such an important part of our family life.”
A Legacy of Loyalty
That family tradition has grown into a legacy of support. Together, Gabe and Shirley have become longtime champions of UH Athletics, believing strongly that the programs belong to the community. “Our student-athletes are future leaders,” Gabe says. “It’s important for them to know the community is behind them.”
This year, the Lees deepened their commitment by making a $1 million matching gift to UH Athletics during Giving Week (Sept. 6–13). Their generosity will strengthen student-athlete development and expand programs across UH Mānoa sports.
“Collegiate sports has changed so much in the past five years, especially with NIL (name, image and likeness),” Gabe says. “But the basics haven’t changed – student-athletes still need our support. Simply buying a ticket helps, and Giving Week makes it possible for anyone to contribute, no matter the amount.”
The Lees view their philanthropy as both gratitude and responsibility. “Our student-athletes are future leaders,” Gabe said. “It’s important they know the community is behind them.” Shirley added that UH athletes not only compete, but also serve as role models, giving back through clinics and volunteer service.
Their generosity reflects a shared vision: honoring UH’s past while shaping its future. As Gabe explains, “The community always rallies around UH Athletics. It’s part of who we are.”
Pride, Gratitude and Responsibility
Both Gabe and Shirley see their philanthropy as an expression of gratitude and responsibility. “We’ve been fortunate in our lives, and we believe it’s important to give back to the community that has been so generous to us,” Gabe explains. “This gift represents our pride as UH alumni, and we hope it conveys to the next generation how vital it is to give back.”
Beyond wins and losses, the Lees take pride in how UH athletes serve as role models and community builders – whether they’re leading baseball clinics for keiki or volunteering in local schools. “They give so much back, often in ways the public doesn’t see,” Shirley notes.
The Lees’ support is rooted in both nostalgia and vision: honoring the past while helping to shape the future. “The community always rallies around UH Athletics,” Gabe says. “It’s part of who we are.”
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