DePaul Law alumnus
Craig Smith and his wife, Linda Fontana-Smith, believe in the power of
education.
The DePaul College of Law is honored to announce that Craig Smith
and Linda Fontana-Smith have made a $1 million planned gift to the college. Their
generosity will provide unrestricted support toward the strategic priorities of
DePaul Law, including student scholarships, faculty support, and new and
enhanced programs.
“We are so grateful for Craig and Linda’s generous and
thoughtful gift,” says Dean Jennifer Rosato Perea. “The spirit of their gift
reflects the best of DePaul Law by providing students with the opportunity to
realize their great potential and, after they have become accomplished in their
fields, feel an obligation to give back to the law school that first opened
doors for them. Craig and Linda inspire all of us to do more to transform our
students’ lives.”
Craig Smith earned both his JD, in 1980, and his LLM in
taxation, in 1983, from the law school. He went on to a highly successful
career in law and business. He was president and CEO of Mizkan Americas when he
retired in 2014.
“The law school offered me a unique opportunity to improve
my career path at a time when law was transitioning from a profession to a
business,” Smith says.
Smith has been a member of the college’s Dean’s Advisory
Council since 2013 and served on the advisory board of DePaul’s Institute for
Business and Professional Ethics. Of the latter he says, “It was an important
way for me to give back to DePaul. I believe in doing the right thing because
it’s the right thing to do. In business, that usually points you in the right
direction,” Smith says.
Both Smith and his wife, Linda, a former educator, are
enthusiastic about supporting education.
“DePaul provides a unique opportunity for students who may
be the first in their family to go to college,” says Smith.
“I’m a product of Catholic schools,” says Mrs. Fontana-Smith. “We agree that our ability to give back wouldn’t be possible if it weren’t for
Craig’s DePaul education. When we discussed what would happen to our estate in
the future we chose to give to DePaul. Our hope is that future DePaul students
and alumni also will realize the power and value of their education and will
continue to help the DePaul community.”