Harris Corporation, Community Foundation of Brevard Announce $5 Million Grant to Florida Tech
January 17 2008 - 1:30PM
PR Newswire (US)
MELBOURNE, Fla., Jan. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Harris
Corporation Charitable Fund, held by the Community Foundation of
Brevard (CFB), has donated $5 million to Florida Institute of
Technology to create the Harris Institute for Assured Information,
which will focus on developing advanced solutions to help solve the
global information security problem. In addition to the cash
donation, Harris Corporation will provide strong research and
development support to assist the new institute over the next four
years. The Harris institute will be housed in a new
24,000-square-foot Harris Center for Science and Engineering on
Florida Tech's Melbourne campus. Unlike other information research
efforts that target classified government applications, the new
institute will develop solutions for a wide range of real-world
commercial and government applications. These include banking and
finance, retail, healthcare, education, civil agencies and others.
In addition to developing advanced solutions, the institute will
help foster new, highly qualified talent in the important, fast
growing field by providing post graduate and research
opportunities. Information security has grown to become a
multibillion-dollar issue affecting virtually all government
agencies, businesses and individuals in the United States and
around the world. Each year millions of information files are
hacked or stolen, placing government, business and personal
information at risk. Florida Tech President Anthony J. Catanese
heralded the Harris commitment as a new chapter in a collaboration
that dates to the university's founding 50 years ago. "This grant
will further strengthen the remarkable partnership between Harris
and Florida Tech," he said. "The new Harris Institute for Assured
Information will enhance the strengths of both organizations and
build on our fruitful alliance." Florida Tech's already substantial
reputation in information assurance served as a catalyst for the
gift. "Florida Tech and Harris have a very strong common interest
in information assurance and in developing solutions that protect
organizational and individual security," said Howard L. Lance,
Harris chairman, president and CEO. "Florida Tech has strong
capabilities in information assurance, and Harris is one of the
largest companies focused strictly on assured communications and
information technology. We saw that it was a natural area for
collaboration." Florida Tech's existing information assurance
center in the College of Engineering, is under the leadership of
Richard Ford. It is already recognized for its work and numerous
government and national foundation contracts. "Harris is one of the
world's leading companies in its field. Having Harris as a close
partner is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," said Ford. "With
Florida Tech's proven track record in the security space added to
Harris Corporation's expertise, the sky's the limit." President and
CEO of the Community Foundation of Brevard, Gary F. Lang called the
grant a showcase for the foundation's continuing mission. "The work
of the foundation changes people's lives," said Lang. "The CFB is
very proud of its relationship with Harris Corporation and the
causes it supports. We know that Harris's commitment to Florida
Institute of Technology will change people's lives for the better,
too." The donation is part of the Golden Anniversary Campaign for
Florida Tech and brings the university up to $43 million toward its
$50 million goal. Florida Tech's Senior Vice President for
Advancement Thomas G. Fox noted that, historically, this is the
corporation's second lead gift for a Florida Tech capital campaign.
"Harris has a strong tradition of giving to the university and for
that we are extremely grateful," said Fox. "Nearly 20 years ago,
Harris made a $5 million gift that was the centerpiece of a
successful $25 million campaign. This tremendous new contribution
will serve to create the same kind of momentum for the Golden
Anniversary Campaign." The grant will fund three efforts. First,
$1.75 million will help build the Harris Center for Science and
Engineering. The new, 8,000-square-foot Harris Institute for
Assured Information will take up most of one floor in this new
building. Second, $2.5 million will finance a Harris Faculty Chair
in Assured Information. Third, $750,000 will support student
scholarships and fellowships. Florida Tech's capital campaign ends
in September 2009. "Corporations and foundations always ask who
else is on board," said Fox. "With the emphatic imprimatur of
Harris Corp. and the Community Foundation of Brevard on the Golden
Anniversary Campaign, our credibility and visibility through the
remaining days of the campaign take a big leap forward." A webcast
of the press conference is available at
http://www.it.fit.edu/events/2008_01_pressconference. About Florida
Institute of Technology Located in Melbourne, Fla., the university
was founded in 1958 to train professionals working in the space
program at what is now Kennedy Space Center. It is the only
independent, technological university in the Southeast. It was also
named a Barron's Guide "Best Buy" in College Education, is listed
among America's best colleges in U.S. News & World Report, is
among the top Southeastern colleges according to Princeton Review
Rating and was rated a top private university in Florida by the
Washington Monthly College Ranking. More information is available
at http://www.fit.edu/. About Harris Corporation Harris is an
international communications and information technology company
serving government and commercial markets in more than 150
countries. Headquartered in Melbourne, Florida, the company has
annual revenue of over $4 billion and 16,000 employees - including
nearly 7,000 engineers and scientists. Harris is dedicated to
developing best-in-class assured communications(TM) products,
systems, and services. Additional information about Harris
Corporation is available at http://www.harris.com/. DATASOURCE:
Harris Corporation CONTACT: Jim Burke, Corporate Headquarters of
Harris Corporation, +1-321-727-9131, Web site:
http://www.harris.com/ http://www.fit.edu/
http://www.it.fit.edu/events/2008_01_pressconference
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