FAU Celebrates ‘Stellar’ 2019 President’s Gala

Mr. and Mrs. Kelly

FAU President John Kelly and First Lady Carolyn Kelly


By brittany sylvestri | 4/8/2019

Florida Atlantic University recently celebrated its eighth annual President’s Gala in the Martin F. and Jane Greenberg Foundation Tower of FAU Stadium at its Boca Raton campus. 

Through a year-long initiative and the gala, FAU raised more than $7 million in support of student scholarships. A monumental $5,992,864 was raised for scholarships from May 2018 to April 2019 with an additional $1,806,559 raised in scholarships from this year’s President’s Gala.

The gala was a stellar evening, spread over three levels of the stadium, and featured gourmet dining, a full open bar, fireworks, live entertainment, red carpet photo-ops and more. 

“The 2019 gala was a tremendous success,” said FAU President John Kelly. “Carolyn and I would like to offer our most sincere thanks to our sponsors, guests and volunteers for supporting this wonderful annual event and helping current and future Owls acquire the education and skills necessary to become tomorrow’s leaders.”

The event highlighted the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science and celebrated the sciences and showcased Astro, an artificial intelligence dog.

Presidential-level sponsors ($100,000-plus) included Rubin and Cynthia Gruber.

Diamond-level sponsors ($50,000-plus) included Stewart '80 and Wendy Martin.

Platinum-level sponsors ($25,000-plus) included DPR Construction; GA Telesis; JM Family Enterprises; PNC Financial Services; Palm Beach Illustrated; SBA Communications; Dr. Alan Aker and Dr. Ann Kasten-Aker; Robert '67 and Constance '67 McGee; and Jay M. and Marilyn K. Weinberg. 

Gold-level sponsors ($15,000-plus) included Brent '81 and Tammy Burns; FAU Business Services; and Follett Bookstores.

Silver-level sponsors ($10,000-plus) included Angels for Autism; BrightView; Chartwells; FPL/NextEra Energy; Islamorada Beverage Company; Oracle Elevator; Outdoor Lighting Systems; Schmidt Family Foundation; SFL Productions; Dr. Michael T.B. and Phyllis Dennis; Charles Federico; Nancy Lipkin-Stein '13; Rey '75 and Joyce More; and Coca-Cola Company.  

Bronze-level sponsors ($5,000-plus) were Adam Susser Foundation, Inc.; ADT; Balfour Beatty Construction; Dell Technologies; Designs by Sean; Office Depot; Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at FAU; Pechter Family Foundation; South Glazer’s Wine and Spirits, LLC; Templeton & Company; The Gabor Agency, Inc.; U.S. Trust/Bank of America; Bruce H. Allen; UBS-Mayer/Arentsen Group; George S. Mayer III '03; Michael '82 and Mindy Feldman; Avron and Wendy Fogelman; Ed and Carolyn Levy; Dale M. Gregory; Connie McEvoy; Michael L. Miller; IBMSECU; Dr. Joseph and Lynn Ouslander; and Saks Fifth Avenue.  

Crystal-level sponsors ($2,500-plus) were Advanced Roofing; BBC International; Bobby and Barbara Campbell; Dan and Debra Cane; Contemporary Services Company; Creative Management Technology, Inc.; Fastenal Company; Grimes Events and Party Tents; Infinity Roofing; JWR Construction; MCNA Dental; Exela; Paladin Global Partners; RGD Consulting Engineers; Skanska; Song and Associates; Dr. Patricia Anatasio and Thomas Mersch; Dr. Marc Apple; Anthony '78 and Vicki Barber; Dr. Stella Batalama and Dr. Dimirtrios Pados; Joseph and Eva Collard; Shaun and Tanya Davis; Bonnie F. Halperin '74 and Michael Weinstein; Van and Jane Grote Hipp; Priti Kothari; Dr. John and Mary Beth '74 McDonald; Brian and Ingrid Poulin; Thomas '71 and Maureen Workman; and Dr. Richard and Lila Yules.  

For more information on the gala, visit https://gala.fau.edu/

-FAU-

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