|
Steve Mihaylo is a reluctant chief when it comes to leading the charge for more alumni to give back to their university. But lead he does — and exceptionally well. In January, the 1969 alumnus gave Cal State Fullerton’s College of Business and Economics $30 million — the largest donation in the university’s 50-year history and the fourth-largest in the California State University system.
At the announcement ceremony, Mihaylo stressed that the gift was not the end of his commitment to CSUF. Later that same month, the Nevada resident returned to campus to hear a presentation about a new sales curriculum under consideration for the college. He also serves on the college’s Dean’s Advisory Board.
Mihaylo’s gift to the university is at heart a vote of confidence as well as a gift that will provide ongoing funds for endowed chairs, faculty support and research, student scholarships and programmatic initiatives, including enhanced career placement services and expansion of the MBA program – areas the college has identified that will help position the College of Business and Economics as a leader among business institutions. In thanks for his generosity, the university has named the college after him. The building that will house the college when it is completed later this year bears his name as well, thanks to a previous $4.5 million gift to the university several years ago. In total, Mihaylo has given or pledged nearly $35 million to the university. But that’s not all. Mihaylo now seeks to grow a universitywide endowment. He’s calling on his fellow alumni to help make it happen.
“I didn’t go out to become a leader in giving, but if that’s what it takes, that’s what I’ll be,” says the longtime philanthropist who has given scholarship funds to several educational entities, including his high school alma mater, Big Bear High. “There’re not many out there who can give $30 million or $5 million – or even $1 million — but there are tens of thousands of people who have benefited from a Cal State Fullerton education. “At Cal State Fullerton we give people a good grounding and preparation for life. Preparation for their profession,” the business entrepreneur says. “The CSU system is where the rubber meets the road.”
Mihaylo came to the university on the GI bill and worked to put himself through college. Right after graduation, Mihaylo struck out on his own to become a successful telecom entrepreneur, founding Inter-Tel Inc., a manufacturer of voice and data network equipment for small- to mid-size businesses worldwide. He sold the company last year.
So, Mihaylo wants to see alumni step up and help support the institution that helped them get where they are, as well as help future Cal State Fullerton students. “It’s really about changing people’s lives.
“The government only
has so many resources. But if you give money right
where it is needed, it works much more efficiently,”
Mihaylo stresses. “If we can raise a true endowment,
think what we could do. I think we can build an
endowment at Cal State Fullerton of at least $1 billion.
We can do as much [in the way of giving] as alumni
do for Harvard, if we work together.“If everyone just gave $100 … $200 a year – that’s
just a little bit every day, but it adds up. Skip that Big
Mac or a cup a coffee … drive a little less. It just takes
a little effort,” says Mihaylo, pulling spare change from
his pocket as an example. “At Cal State Fullerton, we
have more than 187,000 graduates dispersed all over
the world. We can do so much good, right here at our
alma mater. We can make a difference.”
