FAU Receives $1M Gift for Athletics, Education and Holocaust Studies

Guggenheim

From left, Florida Atlantic University mascot Owlsley; long-time FAU benefactor Howard Guggenheim; FAU President Adam Hasner; and Bing Tai. FAU received a $1 million gift from Guggenheim to benefit students, faculty and programs within FAU Athletics, the College of Business and Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, as well as the Kurt and Marilyn Wallach Holocaust and Jewish Studies Building.

By kristine gobbo | 10/15/2026

Florida Atlantic University received a $1 million gift from long-time Boca Raton community member Howard Guggenheim. This gift will benefit students, faculty and programs within FAU Athletics, the College of Business and Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, as well as the Kurt and Marilyn Wallach Holocaust and Jewish Studies Building.

"After 46 years in Boca Raton, I believe deeply in giving back to the community that has given me so much and in helping young people find a path to a successful future,” said Guggenheim. “Florida Atlantic has long felt like family to me, and I am proud that this gift will strengthen our community for generations to come.”

Guggenheim’s support of FAU Athletics dates to the earliest days of the football program, when he helped bring legendary Coach Howard Schnellenberger to the university and became the program’s first founding donor. He later supported the football stadium and spent countless hours with coaches and student-athletes on the practice field, mentoring young men as they prepared for careers and life beyond the game. After traveling with the team and watching the program grow, Guggenheim remains closely connected to football and other FAU sports.

“We are thankful for Howard Guggenheim’s continued support of his ‘Hometown University,’” said FAU President Adam Hasner. “His decades-long commitment has helped make Florida Atlantic the institution it is today, and now he is helping define its future by advancing excellence in athletics, business and medicine, and by standing firmly against antisemitism.”

Guggenheim’s philanthropy also reflects his commitment to preparing students for lives of purpose and service. His support includes scholarships for College of Business students and the College of Medicine’s White Coats program. That commitment to education extends to the Kurt and Marilyn Wallach Holocaust and Jewish Studies Building, where his investment, informed by his experience as a Holocaust survivor, will help preserve history and educate future generations.

“Howard’s gift is a powerful reflection of the people and programs that have meant so much to him throughout his relationship with Florida Atlantic,” said Blake Davis, vice president for institutional advancement and CEO of the Florida Atlantic University Foundation. “By investing in the areas he cares about most, he is creating meaningful opportunities for students, student athletes and coaches, and ensuring his impact will be felt across the university and region for years to come.”

Beyond FAU, Guggenheim supports other community philanthropic organizations, including Boca Raton Regional Hospital, Boca Helping Hands, the Dwight Stephenson Foundation and the Festival of the Arts BOCA.

“We are incredibly grateful for Howard Guggenheim’s continued support of Florida Atlantic Athletics,” said Josh McCowan, vice president and director of athletics. “As the original founding donor that brought football to paradise nearly three decades ago, Howard has left an indelible legacy for this university. While we are humbled by his generosity, we are just as appreciative of his passion for FAU and for profoundly impacting generations of Owls.”

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