Tyler and Ginger Branham support Husky Athletics and the UW to pay it forward to new generations
When it came time for Tyler and Ginger Branham to purchase a home for their growing family, they insisted on a very important priority: it had to be close to the University of Washington. As Men’s Basketball and Football season ticket holders, staying close to the UW meant staying close to their connections and their tailgates with 15 other families which had become a way of life.
“Football season gives shape to the year. We measure the passage of time by seeing how much our kids have grown from one season to the next,” says Tyler, a Microsoft account executive who earned an MBA from the UW Foster School in 2014 after eight years in the U.S. Navy. “It’s a joy to see these kids grow up in the shadow of Husky Stadium.”
Ginger, a public defender, also feels deeply connected to the University despite not being an alum, noting that “it is such a critical part of the fabric of our lives”, which includes sons Henry, 11, and John, 8.
Both of Tyler’s parents attended Washington. He spent his youth on Montlake, attended many exciting road games and watch-parties during his globe-trotting Navy years, and is now sharing that experience with his own family by attending lots of different UW sporting events.
The tailgates are special. The group owns a trailer that remains stationed in the parking lot during the season. With friends old and new, the Branhams consider those joyful gatherings a highlight of their lives.
The couple donate generously to Husky Athletics as Game Changers, supporting funding that provides essentials to student-athletes such as mental health services, innovative technology, team travel and more. Tyler also participates on the Tyee Club’s Sports Council, a broad-based volunteer group that supports the fundraising efforts of UW Athletics by providing feedback on annual campaigns, promoting fundraising initiatives and Tyee events, and acting as ambassador and vital connector to our fans and donors.
“The University is in my DNA,” Tyler states. “We could never give back as much as we receive. We want to pass it on to the next generation and hope they can benefit in the ways we’ve benefited from our involvement with Athletics and the UW. It’s about continuing the legacy and ensuring the UW thrives in the future.”
