Distinguished Alumni Award

Richard O. Jacobson, a former student at the UI's business college, is president of the Richard O. Jacobson Foundation in Des Moines. His support and continuing involvement have helped the University of Iowa press ahead toward ambitious goals and high-quality programs.

In 1968, Jacobson founded Jacobson Companies, a warehouse company with six employees, and he guided the development of the firm until it now employs more than 1,000 people in transportation, investment management, and warehousing. Thanks to Jacobson's hard work and exceptional leadership, the Jacobson Companies have adopted principles of continuous improvement to ensure the highest degree of customer satisfaction, as well as employee performance and loyalty.

A true philanthropist who is eager to share his success with many worthy beneficiaries, Jacobson has provided generous support to Hawkeye athletics and to the Henry B. Tippie College of Business. He first became involved with Iowa athletics in 1973 as a member of a local I-Club, and his annual gifts have grown steadily. In 1993, he pledged $1 million to the Hawkeye Horizons Campaign, an extraordinary contribution recognized by the naming of a new football facility in his honor, the Richard O. Jacobson Athletic Building. In 1997, Jacobson became an honorary letterman of the National Iowa Varsity Club in recognition of his commitment to UI sports.

Jacobson has been quick to provide gifts to other Iowa programs, too. In 1996, his annual gifts qualified him as a member of the Henry B. Tippie College of Business's Dean's Club, and in 1997 he was appointed to the Henry B. Tippie College of Business's Board of Visitors. In addition, his company is recognized by the UI Foundation as a Presidents Club Associate, the highest honor club for contributors to all areas of the university.

Jacobson's public-spirited generosity extends beyond the university to embrace the larger community, with support to Youth and Shelter Services, the Rock in Prevention substance abuse program, the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and Youth Homes of MidAmerica. He also works for Orchard Place, a home for children with extreme emotional disturbances. Most notably, as cofounder of the I Have A Dream Foundation, Jacobson provides hope to disadvantaged schoolchildren. His organization not only pairs them with mentors to help them make it to high school graduation, but also guarantees those high school graduates a fully funded college education at the school of their choice, in any field, for as many years as they need to pursue their degrees. So far, the I Have A Dream Foundation has found mentors for 49 children from the most impoverished neighborhoods of Des Moines.

Jacobson has been named Outstanding Individual Philanthropist by the National Society of Fund Raising Executives in Central Iowa, Humanitarian of the Year by the Variety Club of Iowa, and Outstanding Philanthropist by Youth and Shelter Services.

Jacobson is a member of the UI Foundation's Presidents Club.