FSU Receives $65M Gift for College of Business

Florida State University has received a $65 million gift to elevate the College of Business and establish several related endowed funds.

The commitment is the largest philanthropic endowment gift in the university’s history and the second-largest philanthropic gift FSU has ever received. It comes from Herbert Wertheim, “a billionaire optometrist, inventor, businessman, philanthropist and the founder and president of Brain Power Incorporated (BPI), the world’s largest manufacturer of optical tints,” according to the university’s announcement.

The business college, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary as an independent unit, is moving into a new facility and will be known as the Herbert Wertheim College of Business. Legacy Hall, the college’s new building, will be renamed the Herbert Wertheim Center for Business Excellence.

The gift will create several endowed funds to support faculty development, scholarships, professional development opportunities for students and the new Wertheim Business of Healthcare Initiative, among other things.

The investment will establish two endowed chairs: the Herbert Wertheim Chair in Health Systems Operations and the Herbert Wertheim Chair in Healthcare Workforce Leadership, both of which will support faculty members focused on improving and modernizing health-care operations and systems.

“My belief in the transformative power of education and healthcare inspires me every day, and I am truly excited to partner with Florida State University to help lift the College of Business to new heights,” Wertheim said in a news release. “Together, we will empower students and future leaders to drive meaningful progress, advance innovation in healthcare and business, and create lasting opportunities that benefit our communities and the world.”

“We are extremely grateful and humbled by the incredible generosity of Dr. Wertheim,” said FSU president Richard McCullough. “This transformational philanthropic investment will propel the college forward and empower generations of future leaders in the global marketplace.”