President Hanbury recognized the Miniaci family for excellence in community service and highlighted NSU’s fundraising campaign at the 18th annual Celebration of Excellence, an annual event hosted by Hanbury to showcase NSU’s achievements and future vision, on Jan. 30.
Through the campaign, titled “Realizing Potential: The Campaign for Nova Southeastern University,” the university plans to raise $250 million in philanthropic gifts and $300 million in externally funded research by 2020 as part of Vision 2020, NSU’s mission to be recognized as a premier, private, not-for-profit university. NSU has already raised more than half of the money.
“It’s the largest philanthropic campaign not only undertaken by NSU, but also the largest philanthropic campaign ever undertaken by any not-for-profit organization in Broward County’s history,” Hanbury said.
The philanthropic gifts that the university hopes to raise will prioritize NSU students, faculty and 21st century education initiatives. The university plans to devote $125 million to funding scholarships and other resources for students, $75 million to attracting qualified educators and researchers and $50 million to expanding NSU’s educational mission through community-centered initiatives.
“Our students, our faculty, our staff and all the researchers are performing excellently in areas of cultivating tomorrow’s great artists, actors, musicians, educators, entrepreneurs, physicians, dentists and nurses,” said Hanbury. “[They] are trained to solve conflict, whether the conflict is within the individual, in the workplace or on the world stage.”
At the Celebration of Excellence, the Miniaci family received the President’s Excellence in Community Service Award, which was established in 1997 to recognize philanthropic support and commitment to the community.
“At NSU, we have a single shared vision, a commission and a set of core values that guide us in our actions, but it takes thousands of people to see that vision come to reality,” said Hanbury.
Albert Miniaci, an NSU trustee and member of the Ambassador’s Board, said that he, Rose, Dominick, Meike and Beatriz Miniaci were honored to be recognized.
“We don’t look for recognition, but it’s nice to be recognized, and we’re all humbled by it,” he said.
The Miniaci family’s contributions have helped to create the Rose and Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center in the Alvin Sherman Library, fund scholarships, support local children, families and cancer research organizations and assist individuals in many disciplines.
“The Miniaci family is engrained in our community and has demonstrated a stirring commitment to philanthropy and community service,” Hanbury said. “They have created a destiny that has given back to thousands of individuals and have made this place a better place to live.”
Albert Miniaci said they want students to realize their potential.
“We want our contributions to help the students to recognize their highest potential — to provide opportunities for young people who can’t afford college or have to leave college with student debt,” he said.
The Miniaci family hopes to promote values of giving, sharing and gratitude. Miniaci emphasized the importance of contributing to education and to the community in general.
“We hope that students would feel fortunate that they have the opportunity to go to a school like NSU and that they ‘pay it forward’ when they have the opportunity to, when they get to their careers or before they even get to their careers,” he said.
Miniaci said that part of the purpose of the Celebration of Excellence is to inspire others to support the university.
“We hope to bring to the attention of the community the excellence that the university is achieving and will continue to achieve in the future and how important financial health is to students,” he said.
Over 500 people attended this year’s Celebration of Excellence.
Photos printed with permission from Kim Cohane
