Last week, FAU’s School of Social Work hosted its sixth annual Phyllis Sandler Heart of Social Work event, which celebrates excellence in social work in our community and raises funds for the program. At the event, I had the special privilege of announcing a spectacular $7 million gift from longtime benefactors Phyllis and Harvey Sandler to name The Phyllis and Harvey Sandler School of Social Work within the College for Design and Social Inquiry.

This transformational gift will support the educational goals of the School of Social Work by establishing certificate programs in neuroscience, military and veterans’ affairs, and leadership and nonprofit management; a Substance Misuse, Mental Health and Research Center; and the Robin Rubin Mindfulness and Wellness Center, in honor of Phyllis and Harvey’s daughter Robin, an FAU alumna and School of Social Work faculty member. The gift also will support renovations to the College for Design and Social Inquiry building.

Additionally, the Sandlers gave $250,000 to name the Phyllis and Harvey Sandler Student-Athlete Lounge in the Schmidt Family Complex for Academic and Athletic Excellence.

We are extremely grateful to Phyllis and Harvey for these wonderful gifts. Their generosity will help grow our Social Work program in remarkable ways and support some of the best and brightest students in the field.