An Investment in Innovation
Sarah Daniels ’16 knows firsthand about the transformative power of philanthropy.
“At UT, I’ve seen vision become reality as the campus has experienced an incredible transformation,” she said, referring to the extraordinary growth UT has experienced in recent years.
“This has inspired me to develop my own vision. One day I will create a company that builds master-planned residential communities,” she said. “I want to impact lives by building more than homes — I want to design and build a community with services and amenities that foster healthy families, wellness as well as residents' professional careers.”
As an entrepreneurship major, Daniels said she gained the confidence and push that she needed to step out of her comfort zone.
“It’s taught me to be a go-getter, set a vision and not stop until I achieve it,” she said. During her time at UT Daniels has participated in more than six business pitch competitions at local and national levels and earned top rankings. She is also Student Government president and a member of UT Entrepreneurs, Delta Sigma Pi, UT Investment Club and serves as a UT Diplomat.
Rebecca White, director of the John P. Lowth Entrepreneurship Center, has also seen the impact of giving on the University and the Tampa Bay community as a whole. She feels that students are more likely to stay in Tampa Bay when they partner and build networks with each other and in the business community, something they can now do at the state-of-the-art center.
“Having innovative, creative and critical thinkers helping build our local economy is a benefit,” said White. “The benefit is also far reaching and can help deliver solutions to economies, markets and social enterprises today and far into the future. We have an important role to play in our community and our world.”
On a wall in the Innovation and Collaboration Building, where the Entrepreneurship Center is housed, are the words “Esse Quam Videri. To be, rather than to seem to be.” White feels UT students represent this — they want to be true to themselves and their strengths.
“Students want to innovate and create something meaningful. It’s about more than making money. It’s about having a passion and making a difference,” she said.
One group of students already making a difference are involved in the startup Tembo, which is managed from their base at the center. Tembo is a social enterprise, providing early childhood education to kids in urban slums. With a test pilot program successfully operating in Nigeria, Tembo is a fully-functioning, revenue-generating business.
“There is a great ability to make a difference in our world, and there’s a great sense of urgency to do so,” said John West, the immediate past chair of the UT board of trustees and CEO of Lion Asset Management, who has created endowments at the University that support entrepreneurship and faith and values programming and scholarships.
Early in his career, West once asked a mentor why he was so generous. “He told me he wanted to make the world a better place, and all he asked was that I help others along the way. It’s the concept of paying it forward,” said West.
His wife, Michéal, echoes his sentiments. “We’ve worked hard, are blessed with the opportunity to give back and want to provide others with opportunities they may not otherwise have,” she said.
The Wests recently attended the Global Summit for the Society of International Business Fellows. There they discussed serious economic struggles taking place in Central Eurasia. With a keen awareness of the need for innovative problem solvers in our world, John West reflected on being a UT donor.
“You get a combination of benefits by being a donor,” he said. “You get to help young people, and you also get to leverage that by providing them with the opportunity to be creative and innovative and help make our world a better place.”
