This year, Hofstra pays tribute to two philanthropists and longtime supporters of the University: Horace and Amy Hagedorn.

Amy and Horace Hagedorn with President Stuart Rabinowitz at the dedication of Hagedorn Hall, the home of Hofstra's School of Education and Allied Human Services, on October 9, 2003.

Horace passed away on January 30, 2005, leaving behind a legacy of vast business achievements and a life devoted to charitable projects, benefiting thousands of people. According to an article in Newsday on February 1, 2005, The Horace and Amy Hagedorn Fund contributed more than $26.4 million to 330 nonprofit organizations. About 90 percent of their philanthropy stayed on Long Island. Horace was oft-quoted as saying, "You can't keep taking the good stuff out of the earth; you have to keep putting something back."

Aside from his philanthropic efforts, Horace was celebrated as the co-founder of Miracle-Gro, which was started in the 1950s to create products for house and garden plants. Previously he was an advertising executive who worked in the radio industry, selling time and writing promotional material. After Miracle-Gro's merger with Scotts Co., Horace and Amy Hagedorn devoted their lives to charitable endeavors and not-for-profit activities.

Throughout the years, Horace and Amy were dedicated friends to Hofstra. Their generosity, combined with a grant from New York state, enabled Hofstra to completely renovate the former federal courthouse, now named Hagedorn Hall, which houses the School of Education and Allied Human Services.

Prior to marrying Horace in 1986, Amy Hagedorn was an early childhood educator. "I spent 23 years in the classroom with 3- and 4-year-old children. Interaction with children and their parents both challenged and sustained me," says Amy.

In 1996 she and Nancy Douzinas, president of the Rauch Foundation, along with other civic-minded citizens, founded Sustainable Long Island, a nonprofit initiative promoting regional economic development that brings environmental health and social equity to communities across Long Island. Amy explains, "Communities and the governmental entities they've elected or appointed often need a non-profit catalyst, mediator or facilitator to help make progress. Horace and I saw the need for Sustainable Long Island as an agent to help communities make social change."

As president of the board of Sustainable Long Island, Amy helps guide the group's efforts to advocate for and implement vibrant, healthy neighborhoods, regional planning so that all communities benefit from development, revitalization of downtowns, development that provides choices in transportation, housing and employment, as well as local participation in community planning.

Amy also serves on the board of advisers of the Long Island Community Foundation (LICF), a division of the New York Community Trust. The LICF funds regional efforts, helps individual donors find and support nonprofits that fit their interests, and builds mutually beneficial relationships between donors and nonprofit organizations. Among her many philanthropic interests, Amy is an active supporter of Long Island PASE (Partnership for After School Education) and ERASE Racism.

Amy also serves on Hofstra University's Capital Campaign Executive Committee and was this past spring appointed to serve on Hofstra's Board of Trustees.

"I'm both humbled and proud to be named an honorary alumna, along with Horace," said Amy. "He would have been very pleased at the honor as well. As a member of the Hofstra Board, I anticipate a wonderful collaborative experience working with the fine governing board that Hofstra as assembled."

Amy Hagedorn is a cum laude graduate of the Baruch School at the City University of New York (CUNY) and earned an M.S. in education from Queens College, CUNY.