RIVERDALE, N.Y., May 8, 2001 (PRIMEZONE) -- The College of Mount Saint Vincent will present Alberto Vilar, technology investor and international philanthropist, with the honorary degree Doctor of Humane Letters at the College's 2001 Commencement ceremony on May 19, at 10:30 a.m. on the River Lawn. He will also deliver the Commencement Address.
In making this announcement, President Charles Flynn said: "Mr. Vilar's work, and the depth of his interest in medicine, the classical performing arts and education embody the breadth of liberal learning. He is a visionary, bringing passionate creativity to investing and philanthropy. He knows how to make a difference in this world."
Vilar founded Amerindo Investment Advisors in 1980, and was an early and large investor in many companies which are now household names including Microsoft, Oracle, Cisco Systems, America Online, Yahoo! and eBay. The company manages portfolios exclusively invested in emerging technology growth stocks. Amerindo manages approximately $3 billion in the fastest-growing sectors of the U.S. economy, and is one of the largest investors in the Internet.
A forceful advocate for philanthropy, Vilar is believed to be the world's largest patron of the classical performing arts. He has provided critical support for many of the world's leading venues, including the Metropolitan Opera, the Vienna Opera, the Royal Opera House at Covent Garden in London, the Mozart Festival in Salzburg, as well as the Kirov Opera and Ballet in St. Petersburg, Russia. Most recently, he committed $50 million to the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
His interests and philanthropy extend to medicine and education. He has funded four specialized institutes for medical research, including the Hospital for Special Surgery and Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. He has been an equally passionate supporter of education and has made major gifts to New York University and Washington Jefferson College, among others.
Vilar, 60, is a Cuban-American, who lives in New York City.
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CONTACT: College 0f Mount Saint Vincent, Riverdale
Gail Small
(718) 405-3345
gsmall@cmsv.edu