September 25, 2008

Laurence D. Fink (BA '74, MBA '76), Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of BlackRock Inc., has provided real vision leadership to the Center for Finance Investments as chairman of its board advisors since its inception in 2006. Recently, Fink matched his intense dedication with an equally powerful gift of $10 million from him and his wife, Lori. In recognition of their generosity, the school will rename the center the Laurence and Lori Fink Center for Finance & Investments (FCFI).

Dedication and Reception: 5:00 - 6:00 p.m.

Dean's Terrace

Fourth Floor Mullin Management Commons

 

"I am deeply grateful for Larry and Lori's extraordinary support for the school," says UCLA Anderson Dean Judy D. Olian. "With their vision and commitment, we will further enhance the reputation of the center throughout the finance, academic and professional communities, having an impact on national and global financial markets." The Finks' $10 million endowment is the largest individual gift to UCLA Anderson since John Anderson's naming gift in 1987. Portions of the investment will be used to create the Laurence and Lori Endowed Chair in Finance to support research in finance and to establish Ph.D. and MBA fellowships for students. Students will also gain greater access to financial market tools and networks, enhancing their career preparation. The center will partner with the newly launched Master of Financial Engineering (MFE), a one-year program that provides an in-depth study in finance that is more quantitatively oriented than traditional MBA curriculums.

The Finks' gift and all lead gifts to the Fink Center for Finance & Investments were celebrated at an unveiling ceremony to reveal the Fink CFI Patrons Wall located in Entrepreneur's Hall. Donors of $500,000 or more to the center are acknowledged on the wall with a plaque and biography. The Fink CFI Patrons Wall ensures their legacy of philanthropy and leadership are commemorated in perpetuity in the Anderson learning community.

A prominent leader on Wall Street, Fink is chairman and chief executive officer of BlackRock, the largest publicly traded investment manager in the United States. He is also a trustee of the BlackRock Equity and Bond Fund Complex within the firm's open-end fund family. In addition to his accomplishments in the world of finance, Fink and his wife have been extremely generous philanthropists to the academic and medical communities. Currently, he serves on the board of trustees at New York University (NYU) and also as co-chairman of the NYU Hospitals Center Board of Trustees. Last year, Fink was the recipient of the John E. Anderson Distinguished Alumnus Award, the highest recognition that UCLA Anderson bestows upon alumni.

Tracy Mlakar, Senior Writer for Assets Magazine