Growth Marketing Manager - Retention & Acquisition

San Diego State alum makes $5 million NIL donation to Aztecs athletics. Chase Fisher, Class of 2011, makes substantial five-year commitment. By derek togerson - published october 24, 2025 - updated on october 24, 2025 at 5:29 pm. Blenders Eyewear founder Chase Fisher is a proud San Diego State alum. In fact, he believes the university is a vital part of his success. "This school is what built me. This is what built the man I am today," says Fisher from Blenders HQ in Pacific Beach. "It taught me (how to handle) adversity, accountability, it taught me how to get back up when nobody's watching. I learned how to build my confidence outside the classroom. That's where I really shine." Those lessons helped him go from surf coach to C.E.O of a company that does nearly $25 million a year in revenue. Blenders has already provided $300,000 in Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) funding to SDSU and produces Aztec-branded shades. But Fisher wants to do more. "I feel like the Aztec gods are calling me to the table," says Fisher. "And not just from a financial standpoint, but from a unique perspective to usher in a new influence for the program, mentorship, and hopes that I can lift up all the Aztecs that want to come to San Diego State." Fisher is making a $5 million NIL contribution to his alma mater, officially launching the Chase Fisher Athletics Support Fund through the Campanile Foundation. Oh, and the money is not coming from his company. It's out of his own pocket, making this one of the largest single, private NIL donations ever made to a non-Power 4 school. The five-year commitment starts with the men's basketball program and will expand from there. "My vision, obviously, is to touch every sport at SDSU. I want everybody that puts on that black and red jersey to think about life outside of the game, bigger than the game. It's really about belief," says Fisher. Fisher took the seed of an idea and turned it into a fashion staple repped by, among others, Colorado head coach and Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders. A member of the Class of 2011, he was a student when Steve Fisher (no relation) built the basketball program into an NCAA Tournament staple. Chase sees parallels in his journey and what the Aztecs athletics department deals with, not being a traditional blue blood powerhouse with Big 10 revenues. "How they built their programs and their athletic department is the same way that I built my company and my success: brick by brick, from nothing," says Fisher. "These coaches and these staffs and these teams, they need resources. They need creative ways to attract talent and to keep talent. I want San Diego State to compete at the highest level. You know, we live in America's finest city. We should have America's finest athletics. And that's just the way I look at it. And if it's going to take me to do that, I'm here for it." Helping the Aztecs compete for championships is certainly a driving factor in this donation. But, Fisher knows less than 2% of collegiate athletes go pro so for him there's an even bigger goal. "I really want these athletes to think about life that's bigger than the game. I want them to come to San Diego. I want them to be I want them to think about personal branding. I want them to think about what business or entrepreneurial venture they could potentially start. I want that sort of energy around the athletes. That's what I want to bring to the table." Of course, a few national titles along the way certainly wouldn't hurt.

SDSU alum donates $5 million to men's basketball program. SDSU receives $5 million basketball donation from Blenders founder SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - An SDSU alumnus is making a major investment in his alma mater's future. Chase Fisher, founder of Blenders, announced a $5 million donation to the men's basketball program, marking one of the largest contributions in the university's athletic history. "We live in America's finest city, therefore we should have America's finest athletics, in my opinion," Fisher said. The donation comes 15 years after Fisher graduated from San Diego State University, a journey he never anticipated would lead to such a significant contribution. "Never did I think that I'd be coming back and donating on the level that I am," Fisher said. The $5 million will be distributed over five years, with the first year focusing on Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) opportunities and revenue sharing for players. The NIL program allows college athletes to earn money from endorsements and sponsorships using their personal brand. "If you want to keep talent here, you have to pay to play, and these players are now being able to make a lot of money, so that will really help players not only attract new talent but keep talent here," Fisher said. Matt Soria, assistant athletic director for men's basketball operations, said the donation extends beyond just financial support for the program. "It allows our players to help financially their families," Soria said. "Allow them to do a lot of things maybe that our players in the past haven't been able to do." The five-year plan aims to ensure all 15 players on the Aztecs roster receive support. Fisher's involvement goes beyond monetary contributions - he plans to mentor athletes and share insights about brand building. "He wants it to be more than just about the money. He wants to mentor our athletes when they come to campus. He wants to talk about how he built his brand and how he can grow their brand," Soria said. Fisher's motivation stems from his desire to elevate the program and inspire current players. "I really want to inspire these athletes. I want everybody that puts on that San Diego State red and black to feel bigger than the game," Fisher said. This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Blenders Eyewear launched the newest model in its Deion Sanders-inspired Prime21 sunglasses collection last week.