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Gary Winnick Receives Honorary Degree at C.W. Post Commencement
International financier and philanthropist Gary Winnick received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University during the campus’ 42nd annual commencement exercises on Sunday, May 14, 2000. Honorary degrees are awarded to individuals who, through their perseverance, dedication to their field, and commitment to community, serve as role models to students.
Mr. Winnick's global investment career spans nearly three decades. He is the founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Pacific Capital Group, Inc. (PCG), a worldwide merchant bank and investment firm that has created successful companies in such diverse fields as telecommunications, media, real estate, health care and biotechnology.
Mr. Winnick is also the founder and chairman of Global Crossing, Ltd., which has created a network connecting all of the major continents, 30 nations and 200 cities around the world. Since its inception in 1997, Global Crossing has grown from four to 14,000 employees worldwide.
Mr. Winnick and his wife, Karen, a writer and illustrator of children's books, are international philanthropists who have been strong supporters of colleges and universities, libraries, literacy and mentoring programs, health care, medical research and world peace and tolerance.
Mr. Winnick recently received the Simon Wiesenthal Center's prestigious Humanitarian Laureate Award and is contributing the lead gift to create the Winnick Institute/Jerusalem, a global center for peace and tolerance. The center will be built in Jerusalem by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry. In June, Mr. Winnick will be honored by the YMCA of Greater New York's Dodge Award for his philanthropic initiatives.
A native of Roslyn, NY, Mr. Winnick, 52, graduated from C.W. Post in 1969 with a B.S. in economics. He has been a long-time supporter of C.W. Post and has given the campus over $10 million to fund scholarships in the School of Visual and Performing Arts and the College of Management and to restore the historic mansion which is the centerpiece of the campus and serves as the Administration Building. Mr. Winnick had previously given the campus $1 million to modernize and expand the main cafeteria, which has been named the Arnold S. Winnick Student Center in memory of his father.
Emphasizing his commitment to quality private higher education for Long Island students, Mr. Winnick said, “I am a true Long Island boy, born and bred, and very proud of it. My experience at C.W. Post helped shape my success, and the school remains a very important part of my life.”
“The greatest reward I have received from my achievements is the opportunity to reinvest my good fortune in the principles in which I believe, and education is one of my highest priorities,” he added. “I am delighted to help C.W. Post prepare future generations of students for leadership in the global society of the new millennium.”
“Mr. Winnick's generous gift enriches the proud heritage of C.W. Post and paves the way for an even brighter future,” said Long Island University President David J. Steinberg. “It dramatically strengthens our ability to endow student scholarships in areas representing two of Mr. Winnick's major interests, business and the arts. It also allows us to completely refurbish the original and historic building that is the heart and soul of the C.W. Post Campus.”
In addition to receiving an honorary doctorate, Mr. Winnick served as commencement speaker. He was introduced by Long Island University trustee and former Roslyn High School classmate Steven Klar, who hailed him as a “titan of business and philanthropy.”
C.W. Post is one of six campuses of Long Island University, the eighth-largest independent university in the United States. C.W. Post is set on 308 acres in the North Shore communities of Brookville and Old Westbury. More than 11,000 full- and part-time students choose from a broad range of undergraduate and graduate offerings as well as extensive continuing education programs.
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