A Passion for Nature and Learning

Despite spending significant portions of her life in large cities like New York and Miami, Susan S. Levine was always passionate about nature. So passionate, in fact, that in an effort to have nature around even while indoors, she hung photos of plants, flowers, and animals in her bedroom.

In addition to her love of the environment, Ms. Levine had a lifelong passion for learning. She received an undergraduate degree from the then Harpur College, now Binghamton University. She also earned a law degree from University of Miami and a nursing degree from Barry University, while also taking classes at Florida International University.

When Ms. Levine passed in October 2016, Mr. Kenneth M. Bloom, Esq., her trustee, began the search to donate her trust toward a worthy cause. She had left directions that she solely wanted to leave money to nature but didn't specify a particular cause or charity.

"She was interested in preserving plant and animal life for public enjoyment," he says. "She never wavered from what she wanted her money to go toward."

Seeking to find a program to donate part of her trust to that combined these two lifelong passions—nature and learning—Mr. Bloom turned to FIU's Tropical Biodiversity, Sustainable Agriculture and Conservation Emerging Preeminent Program within FIU's School of Environment, Arts and Society. As a member of the FIU Foundation, Inc.'s board, he had heard this program being discussed during a meeting with the university's provost.

Two core components of the program—which seeks to provide a comprehensive assessment of tropical biodiversity and its associated societal values, and to conserve and manage critically threatened tropical species and ecosystems—are The International Center for Tropical Botany at The Kampong in Coconut Grove, Florida, and the Tropical Conservation Institute. After reviewing the program further and visiting The Kampong, he believed it was a good fit for a portion of Ms. Levine's trust.

"I think it was important considering she spent 50 years [in South Florida] that the money be spent locally," Mr. Bloom explains. "There's as much need here as anywhere else."

While the funds will go toward the greatest need at the time, preference will be given toward these five areas:

• Ph.D.-level graduate fellowships for training students in tropical biodiversity conservation science
• Research fellowships for FIU graduate students and faculty for tropical biodiversity conservation research
• Collaborative catalyst projects
• Travel support for tropical biodiversity conservation-related conference presentations, short courses, and workshops
• Tropical biodiversity conservation-themed short courses on thematic workshops at FIU or The Kampong in Miami

For those like Ms. Levine who might consider a planned gift to the university, Mr. Bloom explains that one of the major benefits in giving to FIU is the volume and diversity of programs.

"There's a variety of opportunities to develop, preserve and enhance [FIU's] many and varied programs," says Mr. Bloom. "The partnerships [FIU has] are terrific."

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Join Susan S. Levine in investing in the future of FIU by making a planned gift to the University. Contact us to get started.