The University of South Florida issued the following news release:
Community philanthropists Carol and Frank Morsani have given the University of South Florida a gift of $10 million, eligible for a $7 million state match, President Judy Genshaft announced June 1.
'This is a leadership gift. It will immeasurably transform two major projects at USF,' Genshaft said. 'The Morsanis understand the critical role of vision in building our community and our university.'
In acknowledgement, the USF Board of Trustees on June 1 named two university projects after the Morsanis.
The gift will create the Carol and Frank Morsani Center for Advanced Health Care, a model for teaching health care students in an advanced patient care center. This $64 million project is currently under construction, and will receive $7 million from the gift, all of it eligible to be matched.
In addition, the gift will provide $3 million to help build a new football practice complex and a new stadium for the women's softball team. The new football complex will be named the Frank Morsani Football Practice Complex.
Carol and Frank Morsani have a long history of supporting the Tampa Bay region, including arts and education. Carol Morsani has been active at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute and the largest concert hall at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center is named in her honor.
'Carol and I are blessed with a wonderful family and friends who inspired and motivated us. We've seen the difference that giving back to the community can make to its citizens, the quality of life, and its overall health,' said Frank Morsani. 'It is our hope that with this gift, USF's bold vision for the Big East will unfold, and that USF Health will continue to improve health care across America. Carol and I saw an opportunity through this gift to make a difference in the dreams of USF athletes and those who make strides in the field of advanced patient care.'
Frank Morsani has served on the USF Foundation Board of Trustees since 1995 and is a past vice chairman of the board. He is currently leading the fund raising effort for USF Health - USF's partnership of its colleges of Medicine, Nursing and Public Health.
Carol Morsani is the founding honorary chair of the USF Women in Leadership & Philanthropy program which educates and informs women about the skills and opportunities for effective community leadership and philanthropic efforts.
The Morsanis total giving to USF has now reached $23 million.
The University of South Florida is one of the nation's top 63 public research universities as designated by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. USF received more than $287 million in research contracts and grants last year, and it is ranked by the National Science Foundation as one of the nation's fastest growing universities in terms of federal research and development expenditures. The university has a $1.3 billion annual budget and serves nearly 43,250 students on campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota/Manatee and Lakeland. USF is a member of the Big East athletic conference.Contact: Lara Wade, 813/974-9060; Michael Hoad, 813/974-3300; John Gerdes, 813/974-4086.
Lara Wade, 813/974-9060; Michael Hoad, 813/974-3300; John Gerdes, 813/974-4086.
