Nouns

(n)patron, sponsor, supportersomeone who supports or champions something
(n)presenter, sponsoran advocate who presents a person (as for an award or a degree or an introduction etc.)

Verbs

(v)sponsor, patronize, patroniseassume sponsorship of
(v)sponsorassume responsibility for or leadership of“The senator announced that he would sponsor the health care plan”
(v)patronize, patronise, shop, shop at, buy at, frequent, sponsordo one's shopping at; do business with; be a customer or client of