Havenick, Amdur & Magic City Casino Announce $1M Gift
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The Havenick and Amdur families and Magic City Casino have announced a $1 million dollar gift for renovations of the Isadore Hecht Athletic Center on the University of Miami Coral Gables campus.
The gift will transform the outside entrance and interior of the Hecht Athletic Center main lobby, providing Hurricanes student-athletes and visitors a sleek and modern-looking entry point to the University’s main athletics offices, meeting rooms and support facilities.
“Our family is honored to call the University of Miami family, and today’s commitment ensures that faculty, staff and students can fully enjoy the athletics facilities on campus,” Barbara Havenick said. “We remain steadfast in our investments in our higher education institutions and look forward to joining the UM family in celebrating all of its successes.”
Construction will begin in the summer of 2016.
“I would like to express my gratitude to the Havenick and Amdur families and Magic City Casino for their continued generosity and support of our dedicated student-athletes,” Director of Athletics Blake James said. “We are honored to once again have the entire Havenick and Hecht families support in building champions at University of Miami Athletics.”
The Hecht Athletic Center, named after Isadore Hecht and dedicated in 1979, houses all athletics administrative offices, including athletics department senior staff, the Hurricane Club and sales offices.
The Hecht family’s philanthropic influence extends throughout the entire University, including their support of the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, the School of Education and School of Communication, among many others.
Currently, Barbara Havenick AB ’72, JD ’75, serves on the University of Miami Board of Trustees and is a member of the Athletics Visiting Committee. Barbara’s son Izzy graduated from UM’s School of Communication and also serves on the Athletics Visiting Committee, while son Alex (MBA ’07, JD ’08) is an adjunct professor in the School of Education & Human Development, and son Michael BSED ’11 and daughter Jennifer BSED ‘03 MSED ‘07 are proud University of Miami alumni.
