SUMMER 2013
I N D I V I D U A L S A N D G I F T S T H AT A R E T R A N S F O R M I N G T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F C E N T R A L F LO R I DA
Foundation Board:
Focus
on the
Future
The Millican Society
UCF Faculty & Staff Donors
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Page 4
Page 2
Message from the chair
Med Students Pay It Forward Page 5
Engineering Grad Honors Her Father
New Name for UCF Arena
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Extraordinary Commitment
Dear friends of UCF: Welcome to the inaugural issue of UCF Foundation NEWS. This newsletter has been created for donors and supporters of the University of Central Florida to keep you informed about the individuals and gifts that are transforming America’s leading partnership university. As UCF celebrates its 50th anniversary, private support from alumni, parents, friends and corporate partners is increasingly vital in enabling UCF to withstand fluctuations in state funding levels. But the lasting impact of philanthropy goes well beyond filling the gaps between public funds and rising costs. A gift to UCF is a vote of confidence in UCF’s vision and mission of educating our future workforce, fostering innovation and strengthening the economy. Endowed scholarships, named faculty chairs and other privately funded resources help raise UCF’s national visibility and increase our competitive edge, all of which enhance the value of a UCF degree. Whether giving back or paying forward, contributors are supporting UCF’s hardworking students, the quality of our educational programs and facilities, and the impact of our research initiatives. You are receiving this newsletter because you are or have been a supporter of UCF. We want you to know that your commitment is taking UCF higher, elevating the academic experience and challenging gifted students to reach heights that they may not have thought possible. Every gift to UCF matters. Thank you for your support and for being a catalyst to the economic growth and opportunity that a UCF degree represents. If you would like more information about giving opportunities, please contact us at 407-882-1220 or donorrelations@ucf.edu. Sincerely, Robert J. Holmes Jr. CEO, UCF Foundation, Inc.
David and Judy Albertson were among those individuals and organizations who funded full scholarships for the UCF College of Medicine’s charter class.
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he hopes and dreams of 36 students and their families, friends and supporters — including many longtime donors and scholarship supporters — culminated May 17 at UCF’s first College of Medicine commencement ceremony. “Less than a decade ago, we at UCF dreamed of creating a research-based medical college that would become the gold standard for medical education,” UCF President John C. Hitt told graduating students. The Florida Legislature approved the college in 2006, and individuals, government groups and businesses partnered with UCF to create a national model for medical education in Orlando. In all, $117 million was raised for the medical school as part of UCF’s Central to our Future Campaign. Part of that amount included land donated by the Tavistock Group, owners and developers of Lake Nona, site of the medical campus. Community donors also provided funding that awarded the charter class of medical students with full four-year scholarships.
Dr. Deborah German, founding dean of the UCF College of Medicine, looks on as Dr. Sarina Amin, ’13, receives her diploma from David Odahowski, president and CEO of the Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation. Amin received a full scholarship from the Foundation to cover her tuition and living expenses. The Edyth Bush Charitable Foundation created the scholarship in memory of Dr. Russell W. Ramsey, personal physician to Edyth Bush and a founding director of the Foundation.
The University of Central Florida Foundation, Inc. is the official fundraising organization and recipient of gifts for the University of Central Florida. It is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and the university’s primary partner in securing philanthropic resources. The foundation encourages, stewards and celebrates charitable contributions from alumni and friends to support the University of Central Florida. It is governed by a board of directors, consisting of alumni and friends who volunteer their time to support the foundation’s efforts and programs. The foundation is funded primarily by gift fees, short-term investment appreciation, university support and real estate.