CHICAGO, July 30, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Chicago's Roosevelt University is celebrating a generous donation from one of their younger alumni this summer. Rich Killian, 38, recently donated $1 Million with the hopes of helping the Roosevelt impact more lives like it did his. Killian is the CEO and Chairman of the Board for Infinity Capital Holding Corporation and founder of Prospect Equities, one of only 24 real estate franchise systems worldwide and the first based in the state of Illinois.
Killian's gift to the school will be used for The Richard M. Killian Annual Real Estate Scholarship, awarded to a student annually who demonstrates a strong entrepreneurial drive in the real estate field and maintains a 3.5 GPA.
Killian was the first graduate of Roosevelt's Real Estate MBA program ten years ago, and credits Roosevelt University for paving the way in his career success. After a civil engineering degree from Southern Illinois University and an honorable discharge from the Army, Killian jumped at Roosevelt's inaugural MBA-Real Estate degree program, which was the first program of its type in Chicago. While attending Roosevelt in the evenings, Killian got his real estate broker's license, enabling him to start his own real estate business at the age of 26.
"I couldn't be more thankful for all Roosevelt University did for my life. I want to make sure that the next generation of real estate industry leaders have the same opportunities I had. I am excited about the opportunity to mentor the scholarship recipients and help them change lives through real estate for generations to come," commented Killian.
Roosevelt University, which broke ground for its unique vertical campus this year, is naming its new bookstore at the Wabash tower campus, along with their new Student Center at the Schaumburg campus, after Killian.
Killian, who heads ICH and oversees his 23 companies which produces over half a billion dollars in annual sales, credits two of his Roosevelt professors, Wayne Paprocki and Mike Firsel, for opening his mind to business strategies that included both ancillary businesses and national expansion, both of which he implemented.
Killian recently graduated from the Real Estate Advanced Management and Development Program (AMDP) from Harvard Graduate School of Design in conjunction with the Harvard Business School. The Harvard University program focused on Global Leadership, and only accepts 25 students a year, worldwide.
"The American Businessperson," hosted by Killian on VoiceAmerica Radio, places a strong emphasis on giving back. His mixed approach to philanthropy has made a greater impact in the lives of people outside simply providing financial assistance, by incorporating the skills he's learned in life and business and applying them to those in need.
In 2010, Killian founded The Hardship Home Foundation, which helps people stay in their home with a loss of income or other hardships that may prevent them from having shelter, and his non-profit partnership with A Safe Haven Foundation, one of the nation's leading non-profit organization dedicated to transforming the lives of the homeless towards a sustainable future, continues to create an impact and promote change for those looking for a fresh start in life.
Killian has been involved in giving that goes beyond the traditional corporate idea. His show enlightens business people and entrepreneurs to realize their American Dream, and assists managers and leaders from small businesses to corporate development, through education and informative topics and practices for business and strategy. To learn more about Rich Killian, visit www.richkillian.com.
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