CHICAGO — DePaul University is honored to announce the formation of a transformative student scholarship program thanks to a generous $10 million gift from the Sue Ling Gin Foundation.
Sue Ling Gin, who passed away in 2014, was a pioneering entrepreneur who in 1983 founded Flying Food Group, which became one of the nation’s leading airline catering firms. She also developed numerous properties in Chicago’s West Loop through her real estate management company.
The Sue Ling Gin Foundation has made a $10 million gift to DePaul University.The Sue Gin Scholars Initiative will strengthen DePaul’s Vincentian mission to enable higher-education access for all by providing recognition and financial assistance to incoming undergraduates, including, but not limited to, those who are first-generation college students.
The gift also endows a Sue Gin Student Success Director position at DePaul who will ensure scholars receive personalized coaching and mentoring to assist with goal setting, academic progress and access to university resources. Funding also supports cohort recruitment and campus visits for out-of-state students who may not otherwise have the financial means to travel to Chicago.
“Sue Gin embodied the spirit that animates DePaul. This landmark gift will open doors of opportunity for DePaul students today and for generations to come, honoring her extraordinary life and legacy,” DePaul President Robert L. Manuel said. “In keeping with our Catholic, Vincentian mission, this initiative strengthens our commitment to care for every student. It fosters a community where all students can thrive, discover their purpose, and share their talents in service to others.”
Sue Gin Scholars will benefit from experiential learning opportunities, such as community service, study abroad, internships, on-campus research and extracurricular activities, that will aid retention as well as efforts to close the achievement gap in higher education. Scholars will receive holistic support throughout their education until graduation.
“From recruitment to their first day at DePaul to graduation, Sue Gin Scholars will receive the support and resources necessary to thrive on campus and in their future careers,” said Kimberlie L. Goldsberry, interim vice president of DePaul’s Division of Student Affairs. “This initiative ensures students reach graduation with the confidence, competencies and values to effectively transition into their chosen fields. Moreover, future graduates will have the opportunity to serve as program mentors, creating a strong community and support system for the next generation of Sue Gin Scholars.”
The program’s mission reflects Gin’s own remarkable, self-made ascent from a humble background to a hospitality industry and philanthropic leader. The daughter of first-generation Chinese American parents who operated a restaurant in Aurora, Illinois, she worked tirelessly to support her family, following the loss of her father in her youth, en route to building thriving hospitality and real estate businesses through determination and an unflagging work ethic.
Gin was also a significant presence among DePaul’s servant leadership ranks. She was a Board of Trustees member from 1993 to 2014, served on the School of Hospitality Advisory Board, and played an integral role in guiding and securing funding for the construction of the McGowan North and McGowan South science buildings on the university’s Lincoln Park Campus in 1998 and 2009. The facilities — named for Gin’s late husband, MCI Communications founder William G. McGowan, and his late brother, Monsignor Andrew J. McGowan, a Catholic priest deeply committed to charitable causes — house DePaul’s biological sciences, chemistry and environmental sciences departments. DePaul recognized Gin’s contributions with an honorary degree in 2009.
At the groundbreaking ceremony for McGowan South in 2007, Gin stated, “Advancing youth through education is a key component of the fund’s mission. We are pleased to partner with DePaul University in the advancement of its sciences program. Not only will this new building improve the university’s ability to train scientists, teachers and professionals, but ultimately, it will expand DePaul’s capacity to provide excellence in education to underserved youth who wish to pursue an education and career in science. That is exciting!”
David Cotton, Flying Food Group’s chief executive officer and Sue Ling Gin Foundation trustee, said Gin would find the new student scholarship program just as exciting.
“Sue was a remarkable individual who never stopped innovating and making a difference, both for her business enterprises and younger generations pursuing similar career paths despite sometimes challenging circumstances,” Cotton said. “It is our mission to maintain her legacy by giving to institutions where the example she set continues to inspire others in perpetuity.”
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Russell Dorn