(BLACK PR WIRE) – MIAMI GARDENS, FL (May 26, 2011) – Sheldon Anderson, CEO of Northern Trust’s Southeast Region, hosted a reception of influential South Florida business leaders honoring President Henry Lewis, III, of Florida Memorial University (FMU). Entitled “Building Upon a Legacy: From Good to Great,” the event, held May 3rd in the downtown Miami offices of Northern Trust, showcased the president’s Vision 2020 plan, and raised money for the President’s Scholarship Fund benefitting FMU students.

“I am delighted with the reception’s outcome and grateful for Northern Trust’s kind support of our institution,” President Lewis remarked after the event. “We are so pleased community and business leaders are investing in our vision for the future of FMU.”

Lewis’ Vision 2020 is a growth-focused plan that includes an expanded athletic program, international exchange partnerships, business and industry cluster programs, and faculty research at FMU. “We are embracing a ‘Communiversity’ philosophy that merges needs and concerns of the community with our university,” he continued. “FMU will be an equal partner in the growth, prosperity and future of South Florida.”

The reception also featured FMU’s world-renowned Steel Pan Band. Representatives from local and national businesses including ING Group, UPS Inc., Baptist Health South Florida, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida, The Law Offices of Gary, Williams, Finney, Lewis, Watson and Sperando, P.L., the Gary Financial Group and the Miami-Dade Chamber of Commerce were encouraged to help support the Vision 2020 plan.

“A key component of President Lewis’ plan is developing value-added partnerships that benefit both parties,” commented Dr. Adriene Wright, vice president for institutional advancement at FMU. “We produce tangible results and benefits for everyone involved. Moreover, we fill the talent pipeline with students who are prepared to make a meaningful and impactful contribution to better our global communities.”

More and more organizations are pledging their support to President Lewis’ vision. To learn how you can join the growing list of partners, please contact Dr. Adriene Wright in the Office of Institutional Advancement at (305) 626-3600. For more information on how to be a part of the new day at Florida Memorial University, please contact Ms. Joyce Forchion in the Office of Public Affairs at joyce.forchion@fmu.edu.

About Florida Memorial University:

Florida Memorial University is a private, undergraduate and graduate degree-granting institution located in Miami Gardens, Florida. Florida Memorial’s history and traditions date back to 1879. Its legacy of determination and accomplishment has made it one of Florida’s longest surviving centers of academic excellence. Offering 41 undergraduate degree programs and four graduate degree programs, Florida Memorial is a culturally diverse institution that is committed to transforming lives and helping to create a future for people from many races, ethnicities, countries, religions and socio-economic backgrounds. The university is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs, the National Association of Schools of Music, and the Council on Social Work Education. Strong moral character, mutual respect, freedom of worship and a commitment to serve are the hallmarks of what it means to be a Florida Memorial Lion. For more information, please contact the Office of Public Affairs at (305) 626-3624 or visit www.fmuniv.edu.