Roots of generosity: Garza family nurtures deep connection to alma mater

Anthony Garza, DDS ’91, started on the path to becoming a pediatric dentist when he was a child. When visiting his pediatric dentist for treatment, Anthony discovered the dentist had a talent for turning what could have been difficult experiences into positive ones.  

“He made me feel good—even made me laugh,” says Anthony. “I couldn’t help but love the guy. His staff made sure I was comfortable in every situation.”

It sparked an interest in becoming a dentist, one that solidified when Anthony explored the field more fully during high school.

“With dentistry, you have to know it’s what you want to do,” he says. “I watched my doctors and dentists change lives.”

Anthony earned his undergraduate degree from The University of Texas at Austin, where he learned about a summer enrichment course offered by UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry for potential dental students. Taking the course further confirmed his enthusiasm for dentistry while introducing him to the school.

“They were the first school to accept me, and honestly, that was the only letter I was looking for in the mail,” he says.

Anthony remembers the four years at the School of Dentistry as among the best in his life. He and his wife, Elizabeth, who were high school sweethearts before they got married, had their first two children while Anthony was a student. He recalls how much the faculty helped him grow as a future dentist and a person, supporting him and Elizabeth as they balanced his studies, Elizabeth’s job as a teacher, and the responsibilities of raising young children.

“The faculty loved Elizabeth and our children,” he says. “The support there was amazing, and we would not be where we are today if I hadn’t chosen UTHealth Houston School of Dentistry.”

After Anthony graduated, he acquired a small practice in Sinton, Texas. His focus on helping his patients and creating a positive experience—lessons he kept from his childhood—grew the practice substantially, leading to another practice in Mathis, Texas.

Anthony’s daughter, Ashley, followed her father’s footsteps, graduating from the School of Dentistry along with her husband, Marcos, in 2018 and joining Anthony in the family practice. The Garzas place great emphasis on family—and also on helping others.

Elizabeth’s father, the oldest of 15 children and the only in his family to graduate from college, sacrificed extensively to not only put Elizabeth and her siblings through private school, but also to provide scholarships to other children who would not have been able to attend otherwise.

“That mindset of giving has just always been a part of our family, all the way down to our own children,” she says. 

In 2011, the Garzas made a philanthropic commitment that named the Dr. Anthony and Elizabeth Garza Classroom at the School of Dentistry building, beginning a partnership of generosity with the school.

“When many of the kids I mentored started at the School of Dentistry, the first text they sent was a picture of them standing next to our classroom,” Anthony says. “It was really special.”

In 2017, the Garzas expanded their partnership with the school by creating two endowments: the Dr. and Mrs. Anthony Charles Garza Scholarship Endowment and the Dr. and Mrs. Anthony Charles Garza Faculty Development Endowment. Their faculty development endowment has helped faculty members with opportunities like continuing education courses or purchasing new instruments, while the scholarship endowment has provided financial aid to students following the same path Anthony once walked.

“Several of our scholarship recipients had children, and both parents were working, just like we were,” Elizabeth says. “It’s a wonderful feeling to be able to help them. They’re so grateful.”

As Anthony reflects on everything his relationship with the School of Dentistry has brought—from a successful practice to an ongoing community of students he mentors and fellow alumni—he and Elizabeth’s decision to give back feels like a natural response.

“I think most of us who give have a story,” he says. “We remember where we came from and how we got to where we are—and we want to help others do the same.”