Florida is home to some of the most influential, powerful, and caring people in the world. It’s not just where people go to retire and die, as some might say. Florida is full of exuberant life in major cities like Orlando, Miami and Tampa. Some have made their fortunes inside the state while others made it elsewhere across the country and world. Regardless of how their wealth was acquired, all successful business people know that giving back brings abundance and is an essential part of being wealthy. After all, being grateful and humble for your earnings is a shared trait amongst all of Florida’s elite. Without further ado, here are some of Florida’s top philanthropists.
Phil and Patricia Frost
According to the Chronicle of Philanthropy, Phil and Patricia Frost are amongst the most giving individuals in Florida. As the founder of a successful pharmaceutical company which sold itself to the tune of over seven billion dollars, Phil and Patricia Frost came into the position of being able to donate around $170 million thus far; most of their giving goes to the University of Miami. They have also give $45 million to the Miami Science Museum and the Scripps Research Institute.
Andrae Bailey
Anyone who lives or has lived in Central Florida knows that there is an unfortunate amount of people living there who can’t afford a home. For this reason, Andrae Bailey created a team and set out to do something about it. Due to his and his team’s efforts, homelessness dropped an astounding 23 percent in one year and has since decreased by 60 percent overall! He attributes the work to leaders in the faith community, officials in the government, and volunteers on a grassroots level. Because of these efforts, he won the 2015 Central Floridian of the Year Award (and rightfully so).
Alan Ginsberg
Alan Ginsberg and his family donated $20 million toward a 15-story tower at UCF. Ginsberg made his fortune through apartment complexes and received a papal medal of honor for helping fund the construction of various Jewish and Catholic spiritual centers across the University of Central Florida (located in Orlando).