FAU Announces Estate Gift Commitments From Longtime FAU Benefactors

By Press release submission

Nov 18, 2022

Florida Atlantic University’s Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters and the S. E. Wimberly Library recently celebrated the announcement of significant estate gift commitments from longtime FAU benefactors Howard Weiner, M.D. and Judith Weiner. Their generosity will enhance support to the existing Howard and Judith Weiner Spirit of America Endowed Advancement Fund and will establish two new endowed funds.

The Howard and Judith Weiner Spirit of America Advancement Fund supports three fellowships for advanced graduate students completing a residency, utilizing the Marvin & Sybil Weiner Spirit of America Collection at the FAU Libraries. These fellowships are advertised to advanced graduate students both nationally and within FAU, which support a joint venture between FAU Libraries and the Huntington Library in San Marino, California. The core mission of the fund is to provide support for events and programs through the Department of History to promote the Marvin & Sybil Weiner Spirit of America Collection.

The Marvin and Sybil Weiner Spirit of America Collection consists of more than 13,000 books, pamphlets, government publications, newspapers and serials, including rare works dating to as early as the 16th century. Originally inspired to emulate the personal libraries of men like Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, Marvin Weiner (Howard’s father) spent a lifetime amassing this distinguished collection which was donated to FAU in 2006.

“We are thrilled with the FAU Libraries for its superb stewardship of our father’s nationally acclaimed collection,” said Dr. Weiner. “We are equally appreciative of the College of Arts and Letters for implementation of programs and activities that expose young through old to our country’s unique heritage, a compelling mission so dear to our dad. We are also proud to promote the humanities and the outstanding theater programs. It is our privilege to support FAU in perpetuity in thanks for having immensely enriched our lives.”

The Howard and Judith Weiner Spirit of America Endowment Fund will be established as an endowment to enhance the Marvin and Sybil Weiner Spirit of America Collection within the S. E. Wimberly Library, including expanded community outreach efforts.

“The Spirit of America Collection is a priceless historical research gem that the FAU Libraries is profoundly fortunate to have been entrusted by the Weiner family to house, curate, develop, promote and share with the south Florida region and the world,” said Linda Maire Golian-Lui, Ed.D., dean of the FAU Libraries. “It is our honor to work with distinguished scholars, such as those associated with the Huntington Library, to fully utilize the potential of this collection while discovering new treasures within this remarkable collection. The passion and ambassadorship that Howard and Judith Weiner have for the Spirit of America Collection will be well-supported with their Spirit of America Endowed Advancement Fund for a lifetime of researchers. I cannot thank them enough for entrusting the FAU Libraries with furthering the vision of their father, supporting their passion for the Spirit of America Collection, and for their philanthropic support for the FAU Libraries.”

Generosity from the Weiners also will create the Howard and Judith Weiner Theatre Lab Endowment Fund which will establish an endowment within the Theatre Lab, FAU’s professional theater company located within the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, to foster a connection with FAU theater students in the Department of Theatre and Dance.

“We are blessed to have Judy and Howard Weiner’s continued generous support of our academic programs in arts and humanities, and their special commitment to the Department of History and our thriving theater programs,” said Michael Horswell, Ph.D., dean of the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters. “Their gifts will support students and faculty into perpetuity, ensuring the high-quality humanities programs and theater performances for which FAU has become known, and enabling the careers of hundreds of students who wish to make a difference in the world with a liberal arts education.”