FUBU CEO to speak at UW-River Falls Scholarship Benefit Dinner
February 25, 2015
Daymond John, founder and CEO of the global lifestyle brand FUBU and star of ABC’s “Shark Tank,” will headline the fourth annual Scholarship Benefit Dinner on Friday, April 24, at the UW-River Falls.
An award-winning entrepreneur, John founded FUBU in the basement of his mother’s house and built it into a celebrated brand with more than $6 billion in product sales. A highly influential and sought after consultant and motivational speaker, John has been part of the cast of ABC’s entrepreneurial business show "Shark Tank," seen weekly by millions of viewers, since 2009.
John has received more than 35 awards including the Brandweek Marketer of the Year, Advertising Age Marketing 1000 Award for Outstanding Ad Campaign, and Ernst and Young’s New York Entrepreneur of the Year Award. His marketing firm, Shark Branding, offers advice on how to communicate effectively to consumers through innovative means and connects brands with the world’s top celebrities from endorsements to product extensions. He is the author of two best-selling books, “Display of Power” and “The Brand Within.”
The UWRF annual Scholarship Benefit Dinner has been raising funds to support student scholarships since 2012 and has helped UWRF earn second place among comprehensive universities in the UW System for scholarship dollars awarded annually. All net revenue from ticket sales and event sponsorships goes directly to support student scholarships. Previous scholarship benefit dinner speakers have included Green Bay Packers legend Bart Starr and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Bob Woodward.
“The annual scholarship benefit is quickly becoming a signature event for our campus,” said Chris Mueller, assistant chancellor for University Advancement and president of the UWRF Foundation. “This event, launched as part of our Rising to Distinction fundraising campaign, has become a strategic opportunity for private philanthropy to impact the students at UWRF in ways that go beyond financial support.”
Tickets for the April 24 event are $60 each and include a buffet dinner and a reserved seat at John’s presentation on personal branding. Event sponsorships begin at $5,000 and include a private plated dinner, followed by a question and answer session with John. Additional benefits, including a dessert reception and book signing, are offered to members of the UWRF donor societies, the Chancellor’s Circle, 1874 Society, and Legacy Society.
Tickets for the event are now on sale. For ticket or sponsorship information, call the UWRF Foundation 0ffice at 715-425-3505 or visit www.uwrf.edu/risingtodistinction.