Published On: Fri, Oct 7th, 2011

FAU to host “50 on the 50” anniversary gala at its new stadium

BOCA RATON – Florida Atlantic University will host the “50 on the 50” black-tie gala
Saturday, October 29, at 6:30 p.m. in the tower of the new, 30,000-seat football stadium
on FAU’s Boca Raton campus.

This golden anniversary event will span three levels of the Stadium Tower and Plaza.
Each area will feature a different theme, including the beach resort-themed Plaza,
the “Copacabana” Club on the Delray Hyundai Priority Club Level, the jazz-themed
Delray Acura Premier Club Level and the American Bistro on the Suite Level.

“This will truly be a night to remember,” said FAU President Mary Jane Saunders. “We
will reflect on the university’s tremendous growth over the past half-century as we also
look forward to charting its course for the next 50 years.”

Highlights of the gala include a “half-time” show on the field; a silent auction featuring
rounds of golf, tickets to local attractions, computers, gift cards and opportunities to see
FAU’s 50th Anniversary Book brought to life through a video presentation.

While providing an opportunity for the university’s friends and supporters to join in the
celebration, the gala also serves as a fundraiser for the President’s Scholarship Challenge,
a gift-matching fund established by Saunders and members of the FAU Foundation Board
of Directors in 2010.

Recognizing the challenges students face in furthering their education, Saunders created
the fund with a personal pledge of $50,000. Annual gifts designated to FAU student
scholarships are matched dollar for dollar through this program. More than $200,000 has
been raised so far, and 61 students have been awarded scholarships this year.

With the proceeds from the gala going toward the President’s Scholarship Challenge, it is
anticipated that many more scholarships will be awarded next year.

President’s Level sponsors of the gala include Balfour Beatty Capital; Balfour
Beatty Construction; Barnes & Noble; Chartwells; Dell Inc.; Christine E. Lynn – E.M.
Lynn Foundation; Richard and Barbara Schmidt – Schmidt Family Foundation; Harbor
Branch Oceanographic Institute Foundation, Inc and Wells Fargo.

FAU is celebrating its 50th anniversary throughout 2011 to commemorate the year the
university received initial funding from the Florida Legislature. The university opened
its doors in 1964 as the fifth institution in Florida’s State University System. Through the
years, faculty, staff, students and alumni have been building traditions as the university
has steadily advanced as a center of higher education, meaningful research, artistic
creativity and civic engagement.

Sponsorships for the gala are available at the $2,500, $5,000, $10,000 or $25,000 level.
Tickets to the gala are priced at $250 per person. To become a sponsor or purchase
individual tickets, call 561-297-3010 or visit www.fau.edu/50th.

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