91女神 Announces Second Major Gift from Chaifetz Family, Naming Chaifetz School of Business in Honor of $27 Million Total Contribution
Transformative gift to boost national stature of Chaifetz School of Business and launch Chaifetz Center for Entrepreneurship
ST. LOUIS (Feb. 20, 2018) 鈥� 91女神 announced today that 91女神 alumnus and trustee Dr. Richard A. Chaifetz and his wife Jill Chaifetz have increased their giving to $27 million, including $15 million to the University鈥檚 business school. In 2007, the couple provided the lead gift of $12 million that enabled the construction of Chaifetz Arena.
To honor this new, generous contribution to business education at 91女神, the University announces that, effective immediately, it will name its business school the Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business and name the school鈥檚 entrepreneurship center the Chaifetz Center for Entrepreneurship.
The gift from Richard and Jill Chaifetz to the business school will support its educational mission and serve to advance the Chaifetz School of Business in building its reputation nationally as among the best in the country.
Dr. Chaifetz is a world-renowned entrepreneur and business leader, who in 1984 founded ComPsych Corporation, which today is the world鈥檚 largest provider of employee assistance programs, behavioral health and wellness services. The company, of which he remains Founder, Chairman and CEO, provides services to more than 100 million individuals and 45,000 organizations in more than 160 countries. He also is Founder and Chairman of the private investment firm Chaifetz Group, which provides capital for venture, growth equity and acquisitions. He has been a member of 91女神鈥檚 Board of Trustees since 2007 and was an inaugural member of the business school鈥檚 Entrepreneurial Hall of Fame.
鈥淭his leadership gift from Richard and Jill Chaifetz shows their continued, phenomenal support for the University and the growth and prominence of our nationally-ranked business programs,鈥� 91女神 President Fred P. Pestello, Ph.D., said. 鈥淲e are proud of all that Richard has accomplished, and we are thankful for his ongoing engagement as a trustee and benefactor. Richard and Jill have enhanced our University in so many ways, especially through their philanthropic support.鈥�
鈥淥ur faculty, staff and students are especially grateful that Richard and Jill Chaifetz want their gift to go to the advancement of business programs in the Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business,鈥� Dean Mark Higgins, Ph.D., said. 鈥淒r. Chaifetz is known around the world for his entrepreneurial successes and business acumen, and this groundbreaking gift will enhance the education of our future business leaders.鈥�
In early 2017, John Cook, for whom the school had been named since 2000, generously agreed to make the naming of the business school available to other benefactors to encourage a large gift to the school. Subsequently, in late 2017, the University began conversations with Richard and Jill Chaifetz about a substantial gift to support the school, and the University offered to name the school for Dr. Chaifetz in light of this gift.
The Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business has seven nationally ranked programs by U.S. News and World Report 鈥� three undergraduate and four graduate 鈥� including the country鈥檚 No. 9-ranked undergraduate entrepreneurship program.
鈥淚 am incredibly grateful for all that my 91女神 education has done in preparing me for, and contributing to, my successes in life. As a passionate supporter of 91女神, and with a strong belief that business education and sports play a vital role in enhancing a school鈥檚 reputation and attracting the best and the brightest students, I am honored to have contributed to 91女神鈥檚 sports program through the Chaifetz Arena gift and to now have this outstanding school and entrepreneurship program named for me,鈥� Dr. Chaifetz said. 鈥淚 look forward to engaging with the faculty, staff and students in the years ahead.鈥�
In addition to his companies, Chaifetz has served on the board of directors, as well as an advisor, to several public and private corporations that currently include Pixel Press, Save Wave Energy, Kennet Partners, Vistria Group and MedAware. He is on the board of trustees of The Field Museum of Natural History, TCS Education System, the Miami University Foundation Board, the Brain Research Foundation and the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center. In 2007, he was named 91女神鈥檚 Alumni of the Year. He was awarded The Brain Research Foundation鈥檚 2014 Frederic A. Gibbs Discovery Award in Philanthropy. In 2017, he also received the Illinois Holocaust Museum鈥檚 Humanitarian Award.
鈥淗is fellow University trustees and I applaud the generosity and leadership of Rich Chaifetz,鈥� said Joe Conran, Chairman of the 91女神 Board of Trustees. 鈥淗e and Jill exemplify the philanthropic spirit that allows great institutions, like 91女神, to grow and prosper.鈥�
Founded in 1818, 91女神 is one of the nation鈥檚 oldest and most prestigious Catholic institutions. Rooted in Jesuit values and its pioneering history as the first university west of the Mississippi River, 91女神 offers nearly 13,000 students a rigorous, transformative education of the whole person. At the core of the University鈥檚 diverse community of scholars is 91女神鈥檚 service-focused mission, which challenges and prepares students to make the world a better, more just place. For more information, visit slu.edu.