Trustees Demonstrate Support to Golden Anniversary Campaign

MELBOURNE, FLA. — Demonstrating their allegiance to the university they help oversee, Florida Tech trustees have already contributed generously during the
silent phase of the Golden Anniversary Campaign for Florida Tech. They have, so far, collectively pledged and given more than $4.8 million. Below are four
examples.
“Though we are just coming out of the campaign’s silent phase, the participation rate among trustees is already 100 percent,” said Phillip W. Farmer,
trustee and campaign chair. “You can be sure that this is a success we will build on.”
Trustee F. Alan Smith and wife Sharon have pledged $270,000 toward the campaign, which will allow the College of Business to establish a Visiting Executive
Program. The program will support visits to campus from corporate executives who will share their expertise with students. Smith is a retired executive
vice president of General Motors Corp.
Also supporting the College of Business, Trustee Dale A. Dettmer and wife Pam have donated more than $270,000 for a Dettmer Family Scholarship. Dettmer is
a partner in the law firm of Krasny and Dettmer in Melbourne.
Trustee Joseph Caruso Sr. is channeling his love of baseball to help talented athletes by allocating a more than $150,000 donation to baseball
scholarships. Caruso is president and CEO of Omnifirst Capital Corp. and owner of two minor league baseball teams.
Trustee John L. Slack gave more than $40,000 to create the Panthereum, located mid-campus off Country Club Road. The outdoor music and performing arts
venue has already been the site of numerous student concerts, the Jazz at the Panthereum series and painting demonstrations. Slack is retired president and
CEO of DBA Systems Inc.
“We are extremely proud and glad that our trustees are rising to this important occasion and providing this solid foundation to the Golden Anniversary
Campaign,” said President Anthony J. Catanese.
For more information about the campaign, visit http://campaign.fit.edu.