Fashion Industry Event Raises $1.3M for UA Retailing Center
The New York gala honored UA alumnus Terry J. Lundgren, president and CEO of Macy's Inc., for his continued support of his alma mater.

By Kimberley A. Brooke, Terry J. Lundgren Center for Retailing
July 27, 2010

A retail fashion industry event in New York that honored University of Arizona alumnus Terry J. Lundgren raised $1.3 million for the UA's Lundgren Center for Retailing.

Lundgren, the chairman, president and CEO of Macy's Inc., was presented with the "One Person, One Company, Two Colleges, Make a Difference 2010 Award" for his continued support of the UA and the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City.

"Terry is a phenomenal alumnus of the University," UA President Robert Shelton said. "We are thrilled by his success and the recognition he received by the Fashion Institute of Technology, and we are humbled by all he does to give back to the institution."

Guests including New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, TV personality Martha Stewart and celebrity fashion designer Vera Wang attended the event that raised more than $4 million for the two retail schools. 

"I've attended a lot of benefits, but I can count on one hand the number of times I've seen more than $4 million raised in one night; in good economic times or bad," said Robert A. Eckert, the CEO of Mattel and Lundgren's classmate at the UA. "It was inspiring for all of us to see Terry publicly recognized for sharing his time, talents and treasures. It's important for those of us who have enjoyed success to give back to those who helped us along the way."

UA alumnus Norman McClelland, the CEO of Shamrock Foods, said he was impressed with the young talent that represented the Lundgren Center at the event. "It was a really nice event, really done first class, and it was very evident that Terry Lundgren is held in high regard with his vendors, his employees and his peers in the fashion retail business," McClelland said.

Lundgren officially presented the $1.3 million in proceeds earmarked for the Terry J. Lundgren Endowment for Excellence, which will support the Norton School's retailing and consumer sciences program in perpetuity. 

"This endowment will provide a perpetual stream of funding to support the professional development of our students and enhance their undergraduate experience," stated Melinda Burke, director of the Lundgren Center for Retailing. "It is an important statement about the quality of our retailing program and our graduates to receive this level of support from Mr. Lundgren and the retailing and fashion industry."

The Terry J. Lundgren Center for Retailing is part of the UA's John and Doris Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences. It brings together the resources and expertise of academia and the retail industry, with a shared goal of developing strong future retail professionals. It is considered one of the top retail business programs in the country. About 500 students currently are enrolled in classes and degree programs.

The John and Doris Norton School of Family and Consumer Sciences within The UA College of Agriculture and Life Sciences houses the Terry J. Lundgren Center for Retailing, the Frances McClelland Institute for Children, Youth and Families and the Take Charge America Institute for Consumer Financial Education and Research. The Norton School offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in family studies, human development, retailing and consumer sciences.

The Fashion Institute of Technology, part of the State University of New York, is a selective college of art and design, business and technology, serving 10,000 students in 44 majors. 

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Resources for the media

Kimberley A. Brooke

Terry J. Lundgren Center for Retailing

520-626-7952

kbrooke@u.arizona.edu