The financially challenged University of Hawaii athletic department has received a $1.2 million gift to benefit its overall athletic program, the UH Foundation said in a media advisory Wednesday.

It is one of the largest donations ever received by the UH Foundation earmarked for the athletic department and comes on the heels of an $875,000 gift from the same donor in 2011, according to the statement.

The name of the donor was not immediately revealed, but the UH statement noted the latest donation  brings, “…her total gift to the school to more than $2 million.”

A check presentation celebrating, “this major private investment in our student-athletes and athletic programs”  is scheduled to take place at halftime of the men’s basketball game against Long Beach State Thursday night at the Stan Sheriff Center, UH said. 

The gift comes as UH is searching for ways to fund its 21-team, $32 million athletic program and has had to increasingly appeal for community support.