Campaign Gets Closer to Goal with Million Dollar Gift

BUFFALO, NY – Canisius University President John J. Hurley announced today that Catherine M. Burzik ’72 and her husband, Frank, made a second $1 million commitment to A Legacy of Leadership: The Campaign for Canisius University. Burzik’s commitment to the campaign is the largest from an alumna in Canisius’ 142-year history. 

The Burziks made their first $1 million commitment to A Legacy of Leadershipin 2008. The gift was directed toward the renovation of Science Hall, the college’s interdisciplinary science center, and the establishment of The Catherine and Francis Burzik Endowed Scholarship Program for Canisius students who major in mathematics and the sciences. 

The latest gift is split, with half being an unrestricted gift to the college and the other half directed to the scholarship fund.

The largest fundraising initiative in the college’s history, A Legacy of Leadership seeks to raise $90 million. The campaign total now stands at $89.6 million and will close on May 31, 2012.

Burzik served as president and CEO of Kinetic Concepts Inc. (KCI) from October 2006 to January 2012. KCI is a global marketing technology company with leadership positions in the wound care, regenerative medicine and therapeutic support systems markets, located in San Antonio, TX.

She previously served as president of Applied Biosystems and senior vice president of Applera Corporation from 2004-2006, and chief operating officer and executive vice president at Applied Biosystems from 2003-2004. Burzik was president of Ortho-Clinical Diagnostics Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company, from 1998-2003.

Burzik currently chairs the San Antonio branch of the Dallas Federal Reserve.

“I am grateful to Cathy and Frank for their extraordinary generosity to Canisius as we head into the home stretch of this historic campaign,” said Canisius president John J. Hurley. “Throughout our Legacy of Leadershipcampaign, Cathy Burzik has been a true champion for Canisius. She understands the strategic importance of our Science Hall project and the critical need for financial aid for our students.”

“It is our honor to make a follow-up contribution to Canisius University,” said Burzik. “I firmly believe that my education at Canisius successfully shaped my life as a leader at Kodak, Johnson & Johnson and most recently Kinetic Concepts Inc. The Legacy of Leadership Campaign will provide important resources to enable future Canisius students to pursue excellence in their professions, their communities and their service to humanity.”

Burzik has served as chair of the Canisius Board of Trustees since 2009. She was named a Distinguished Alumna of the college in 2001. Burzik earned a BA in mathematics from Canisius University in 1972 and a MA in mathematics from the University at Buffalo in 1974.

For more information, contact the Office of Public Relations at (716) 888-2790. 

Canisius University is one of 28 Catholic, Jesuit colleges in the nation and the premier private college in Western New York. Canisius prepares leaders – intelligent, caring, faithful individuals able to pursue and promote excellence in their professions, their communities and their service to humanity.