US: Ian Schrager has donated $1 million to the Arne M. Sorenson Hospitality Fund, established by Marriott International to honour the legacy of the company’s late president and CEO.
The donation to the fund will help support the career development programs of the Marriott-Sorenson Centre for Hospitality Leadership, which will be housed within the Howard University School of Business.
Both the centre and the fund was established just a week after the passing of Arne Sorenson in February. The program will give students of the university access to top hospitality executives and industry leaders.
A hospitality industry advisory council will be formed to help design the program. Members of the council will also serve as guest lecturers and mentors to provide learning opportunities for students.
The centre itself was created by a $20 million endowment by The J. Willard and Alice S. Marriott Foundation.
Schrager commented: “Arne Sorenson was the finest, most decent, most brilliant and creative man I’ve ever known. My life was so enriched by just knowing him and dealing with him. I have learned so much about both business and life from him. His passing is not only a loss for his family, friends and colleagues at Marriott but to all of us because he brought genuine good and made the world a better place for all of us. I hope that the Arne M. Sorenson Hospitality Fund in his honour, will continue the great and decent things he did in life by offering equal opportunities to future hospitality leaders. I’m very happy the work Arne did while he was alive will still continue and I am committed to helping to raise awareness and funds to support this effort.”
Schrager and Marriott are inviting other companies, organisations and individuals to support this effort.
