FAU and Friends Honor Phil Smith for His Generosity
Friends and colleagues gathered at Coral Ridge Country Club in Fort Lauderdale recently to honor Phil Smith, a leading Broward County businessman who recently gave his alma mater, FAU, a generous gift.
FAU officially announced a $5 million gift in August from Phil and Susan Smith to establish the Phil Smith Center for Free Enterprise at FAU鈥檚 College of Business. The main tower at the College will be named Phil Smith Hall in honor of the FAU alumnus.
Friends and colleagues gathered at Coral Ridge Country Club in Fort Lauderdale recently to honor Phil Smith, a leading Broward County businessman who recently gave his alma mater, 红玫瑰社区, a generous gift to further its .
FAU officially announced a to establish the Phil Smith Center for Free Enterprise at FAU鈥檚 College of Business. The main tower at the College will be named Phil Smith Hall in honor of the FAU alumnus.
鈥淧hil really worked hard and had a great career. He always came and gave back to the university and always supported others,鈥 said to the more than 135 attendees at the Oct. 4 event. 鈥淧hil, thank you so much for everything you鈥檝e done for us as a university and all the wonderful gifts you鈥檙e giving the next generations of young people who come through.鈥澛犅
The Phil Smith Center for Free Enterprise will support the vision and strategic plan of the College of Business to advance thought leadership in business, adding chaired professorships and supporting research and educational programs for faculty members and students. The Center will also support distinguished visiting faculty along with a lecture series and other educational programs focused on the principles of free enterprise and how those principles affect growth and prosperity. Faculty will conduct research and develop programs based on the business philosophy and principles that have guided Smith over his career.
Smith is a native South Floridian and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in finance in 1969 from FAU鈥檚 College of Business. He is president and CEO of , operating 11 automobile dealership locations representing 25 franchises in 红玫瑰社区 and North Carolina; as well as the Coral Ridge Country Club. He has more than 30 years of experience managing auto dealerships and built his organization from the ground up, starting from his first equity venture in a Toyota dealership in Homestead in 1980.
, Ph.D., dean of FAU鈥檚 College of Business, recalled the first time he met Phil Smith two and a half years ago, when they first discussed teaching students about the free enterprise system. Smith, he said, is one of the great American success stories that all of us can learn from and model our behavior after. A member of the FAU Foundation Board, Smith was named a distinguished alumnus of the College of Business in 2015.
Like many FAU students of his time, Smith commuted to school and balanced his studies with the demands of work and family. He worked as a lifeguard and a valet parking cars before getting a job in the automotive industry selling cars during his senior year at FAU.
鈥淪ome 20 years later he and his business partners in Phil Smith Automotive came back and bought that automotive dealership where he got his start selling cars,鈥 Gropper said. 鈥淭hat is the kind of thing that getting an education, and taking advantage of the opportunities that are available in a free enterprise society. 聽It is never easy 鈥 it takes insight into what consumers want, a willingness to take risks, some good fortune, and lots of hard work, but Phil shows us how solid businesses and strong communities are built.鈥
Michael Dayhoff, partner and CFO of the Phil Smith Automotive Group, thanked FAU for hosting the event at Phil Smith鈥檚 favorite place, . He thanked everyone on Smith鈥檚 behalf for attending and also thanked Phil and Susan Smith for their generosity. Dayhoff recounted Smith鈥檚 accomplishments, making special note of the four-year scholarship program Smith established for the children of the company鈥檚 employees, the time he鈥檚 spent on charities and boards and the and millions of dollars he鈥檚 raised and given to various charities.
鈥淧hil, this gift will help educate the business students at FAU on the free enterprise system for many years to come,鈥 Dayhoff said. 鈥淎t a time when many of our leaders鈥 words don鈥檛 match their actions, it鈥檚 refreshing and it鈥檚 an honor to see how you鈥檝e consistently walked the talk that you do. And we thank you.鈥
In September, in Fort Lauderdale to expand neurological care and establish the Phil Smith ALS and Movement Disorder Clinic and rename its Neuroscience Institute after him. Smith, 69, was diagnosed with ALS two years ago.
The Smiths also continuously give back to the community through their active involvement with the Humane Society of Broward County; Cystic Fibrosis Foundation; American Cancer Society; Holy Cross Hospital; Northwood University; Nova Southeastern University; Orange Bowl Committee and Junior Achievement.
鈥淲e鈥檙e very, very proud of Phil and the opportunities he鈥檚 opening up for students to follow, and the prosperity he has helped create for his customers, his employees, and his community,鈥 Dean Gropper said. 鈥淎s dean I鈥檓 very proud to come to work every day in Phil Smith Hall. So, Phil, thank you so much for what you and your family have done. Thank you to all of his friends who are here to support him, and thank you very much for the example you set.鈥
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Tags: alumni | faculty and staff | business | students