Loyola receives gifts from the Rizzo family – Loyola News

May 9, 2017 | By Stephanie Weaver

Loyola University Maryland has received more than $800,000 from Daniel Rizzo and his wife, Kelly, to supplement their endowed Empowering Baltimore Youth Scholarship Fund. The gift comes in the form of equity in Inovalon, a cloud-based analytics and data-driven platforms company that Rizzo helped to found.

The scholarship preference is given to those who would contribute to the racial and ethnic diversity of the student body, who demonstrate financial need, and who have graduated from a high school in the greater Baltimore metropolitan area. The scholarship aligns with the Rizzo familys philanthropic missionto provide support to organizations that help in the education and growth of underprivileged or disadvantaged students.

Education is the vehicle to personal empowerment, Rizzo said. We want to support organizations that help students to grow and succeed, and in return, those students will give back to Baltimore.

In addition to his gift for the endowed scholarship, Rizzo has also given $75,000 to establish the Business Impact Fellow within the Sellinger School of Business and Management. The Business Impact Fellow will be held by a distinguished professor for three years to conduct research within their field. The funds will support fellows from the 2017-18 academic year through to the 2022-23 academic year.

Rizzo, 99, earned his degree in business with a concentration in finance and firmly believed he would go to Wall Street for a career in finance. Instead, he started Inovalon, a software startup, in Bowie, Md. He credits Loyola for preparing him to be flexible and nimble in his career plans, allowing him to pivot toward opportunities with growth and potential.

My Loyola education helped me grow as a learner and a member of the community. The liberal arts broadened my views of the world, which has helped me in my career, Rizzo said.

The experiences outside the classroom also stayed with Rizzo throughout his years post-graduation. He enjoys rolling up his sleeves and digging into problems, he said.

Dan and Kelly are a tremendous example of Loyola graduates who are living out the ideals they learned as students, said Terrence M. Sawyer, J.D., vice president for advancement. With their humility and thoughtfulness, they are choosing to give back so others can benefit from the Jesuit liberal arts education they receivedand go on to achieve personal and professional success.

Rizzo and his wife, Kelly Bryan Rizzo, 98, were married in Loyolas Alumni Memorial Chapel in 2000. Rizzo, his wife, and their 11-year-old son, live in Anne Arundel County. In addition to his consulting work, Rizzo is a trustee at Cristo Rey Jesuit School and serves on the Sellinger Board of Sponsors. Rizzo will be honored at Loyolas Commencement on May 20, where he will receive the Carroll Medal for his continuous support of the University.

If you are a member of the media and have questions about this story, please contact Nick Alexopulos at nalexopulos@loyola.edu or Stephanie Weaver at sweaver@loyola.edu.

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Loyola receives gifts from the Rizzo family - Loyola News