2025 Hofstra Gala Honoring Donald M. Schaeffer, JD, CPA
Hofstra University
[{'start': '12.750', 'end': '21.199', 'text': '[Music]'}, {'start': '18.560', 'end': '22.640', 'text': "Don is uh he's just one of the most"}, {'start': '21.199', 'end': '25.920', 'text': "thoughtful people that you're going to"}, {'start': '22.640', 'end': '28.640', 'text': "meet. Don is great. He's he's very even"}, {'start': '25.920', 'end': '30.800', 'text': "killed. He's very intelligent. He's a"}, {'start': '28.640', 'end': '32.480', 'text': 'very great presence in the boardroom.'}, {'start': '30.800', 'end': '34.880', 'text': 'First of all, I really like Don'}, {'start': '32.480', 'end': '36.640', 'text': "Schaefer. He's just a good person. I"}, {'start': '34.880', 'end': '41.879', 'text': 'would trust him to do the right thing'}, {'start': '36.640', 'end': '45.360', 'text': "every time. I'd say he is very um very"}, {'start': '41.879', 'end': '47.600', 'text': 'considerate. Is someone that gets along'}, {'start': '45.360', 'end': '50.559', 'text': "well with people. I think we've been"}, {'start': '47.600', 'end': '53.840', 'text': 'very fortunate to have a chair like Don.'}, {'start': '50.559', 'end': '56.160', 'text': "He has a heart. He's very human about"}, {'start': '53.840', 'end': '59.039', 'text': "all matters. Well, he's an absolutely"}, {'start': '56.160', 'end': '62.160', 'text': 'lovely man. loves to talk. He loves to'}, {'start': '59.039', 'end': '64.640', 'text': "engage. He's a wonderful leader. I'm a"}, {'start': '62.160', 'end': '66.400', 'text': 'huge fan. My dad grew up around the'}, {'start': '64.640', 'end': '68.000', 'text': 'corner from where I grew up in Huelet.'}, {'start': '66.400', 'end': '69.600', 'text': 'And I was lucky enough to have his'}, {'start': '68.000', 'end': '71.600', 'text': 'parents there for the majority of my'}, {'start': '69.600', 'end': '74.320', 'text': 'childhood. So, his father, just like'}, {'start': '71.600', 'end': '77.360', 'text': 'him, uh was an accountant by trade. His'}, {'start': '74.320', 'end': '78.720', 'text': 'mother uh was a philanthropist. She uh'}, {'start': '77.360', 'end': '81.119', 'text': 'was very involved in different'}, {'start': '78.720', 'end': '82.960', 'text': 'charities. And I think my dad is a great'}, {'start': '81.119', 'end': '84.799', 'text': 'blend of the two. My dad was at the'}, {'start': '82.960', 'end': '86.640', 'text': 'University of Pennsylvania. My mom was'}, {'start': '84.799', 'end': '88.640', 'text': 'at Vasser. They were set up through a'}, {'start': '86.640', 'end': '90.400', 'text': 'mutual friend. The story is uh there'}, {'start': '88.640', 'end': '93.119', 'text': 'were two Donalds who were going to meet'}, {'start': '90.400', 'end': '94.799', 'text': 'my mom and her friend and uh they saw'}, {'start': '93.119', 'end': '96.720', 'text': 'each other and she was like, "That\'s my'}, {'start': '94.799', 'end': '98.159', 'text': 'Donald." And the rest is history. And I'}, {'start': '96.720', 'end': '100.720', 'text': "think, you know, being his son, that's"}, {'start': '98.159', 'end': '103.360', 'text': "one of the things I'm most thankful of."}, {'start': '100.720', 'end': '105.840', 'text': "Yeah. We're talking about grandpa. Um"}, {'start': '103.360', 'end': '107.520', 'text': 'his ability to always be there for us as'}, {'start': '105.840', 'end': '110.799', 'text': 'a family, no matter how many hats he'}, {'start': '107.520', 'end': '112.079', 'text': 'wears. I remember telling him, "You\'re'}, {'start': '110.799', 'end': '114.960', 'text': 'going to be the chairman of the board'}, {'start': '112.079', 'end': '117.200', 'text': 'one day." because I just know that he\'s'}, {'start': '114.960', 'end': '121.240', 'text': "he's a kind of person people to look to"}, {'start': '117.200', 'end': '124.719', 'text': 'for leadership. Covid uh hit during his'}, {'start': '121.240', 'end': '126.719', 'text': 'tenure which uh had his own special'}, {'start': '124.719', 'end': '128.959', 'text': 'challenges as you can imagine. He and'}, {'start': '126.719', 'end': '130.560', 'text': 'Susan were a very very strong team. They'}, {'start': '128.959', 'end': '132.319', 'text': 'really guided us and and how to get'}, {'start': '130.560', 'end': '136.239', 'text': 'through everything. He was very involved'}, {'start': '132.319', 'end': '139.200', 'text': 'in helping to choose Susan as um our'}, {'start': '136.239', 'end': '140.959', 'text': 'latest president. I can say absolutely'}, {'start': '139.200', 'end': '142.879', 'text': "without any hesitation if it weren't for"}, {'start': '140.959', 'end': '146.080', 'text': "him I probably wouldn't be here. So my"}, {'start': '142.879', 'end': '148.720', 'text': 'hat is really off to him for everything'}, {'start': '146.080', 'end': '150.959', 'text': "he's done over the last five years. When"}, {'start': '148.720', 'end': '152.400', 'text': 'you look back at somebody about anybody,'}, {'start': '150.959', 'end': '154.519', 'text': 'the first thing you look at is their'}, {'start': '152.400', 'end': '156.800', 'text': 'track record and his track record is'}, {'start': '154.519', 'end': '160.000', 'text': "spectacular. And what he's done as"}, {'start': '156.800', 'end': '161.519', 'text': 'chairman of Hofster is outstanding. I'}, {'start': '160.000', 'end': '164.319', 'text': "found out that Don writes children's"}, {'start': '161.519', 'end': '165.599', 'text': "books. What if you'd have said pick the"}, {'start': '164.319', 'end': '167.360', 'text': "person out in the room that's written a"}, {'start': '165.599', 'end': '169.519', 'text': "child a children's book? Wouldn't have"}, {'start': '167.360', 'end': '172.800', 'text': "picked Don. book we're reading today is"}, {'start': '169.519', 'end': '174.400', 'text': 'called The Spider Who Saved the Tree. I'}, {'start': '172.800', 'end': '176.319', 'text': 'did learn last night that he had written'}, {'start': '174.400', 'end': '179.040', 'text': "a children's book. That's the first I"}, {'start': '176.319', 'end': '182.800', 'text': 'had heard of it. Thank you, Spider. I'}, {'start': '179.040', 'end': '185.360', 'text': 'feel great, said tree. He is a musician.'}, {'start': '182.800', 'end': '189.599', 'text': "He writes music. He writes children's"}, {'start': '185.360', 'end': '193.680', 'text': 'books. Um, so his love of the arts and'}, {'start': '189.599', 'end': '195.360', 'text': 'humanities is is just enormous. Don was'}, {'start': '193.680', 'end': '197.840', 'text': 'always interested in theater. We needed'}, {'start': '195.360', 'end': '200.480', 'text': 'a space for a real blackbox theater.'}, {'start': '197.840', 'end': '202.480', 'text': 'When the the Shapiro building was built,'}, {'start': '200.480', 'end': '203.760', 'text': 'this was a space that needed a name.'}, {'start': '202.480', 'end': '205.680', 'text': "It's important that Hoffster has a"}, {'start': '203.760', 'end': '208.560', 'text': "blackbox. You could work off everyone's"}, {'start': '205.680', 'end': '210.159', 'text': "energy and yeah, it's there. It's a"}, {'start': '208.560', 'end': '212.959', 'text': "different type of show. Like, it's just"}, {'start': '210.159', 'end': '215.840', 'text': "more more intimate and real. It's a"}, {'start': '212.959', 'end': '218.000', 'text': 'really vital thing to have on a campus'}, {'start': '215.840', 'end': '220.239', 'text': 'that takes the art seriously, as of'}, {'start': '218.000', 'end': '222.640', 'text': 'course, Hofra does. It was just a'}, {'start': '220.239', 'end': '224.319', 'text': 'phenomenal gift to the university and I'}, {'start': '222.640', 'end': '227.120', 'text': 'know that the students love it and use'}, {'start': '224.319', 'end': '229.840', 'text': "it all the time. I think it's just a"}, {'start': '227.120', 'end': '231.120', 'text': "great space. It's an immersive space. It"}, {'start': '229.840', 'end': '233.200', 'text': "makes the audience feel like they're"}, {'start': '231.120', 'end': '235.360', 'text': 'really in the world of the play, which'}, {'start': '233.200', 'end': '236.799', 'text': 'is the whole point of performing. Anyone'}, {'start': '235.360', 'end': '239.680', 'text': 'who gives money for the university,'}, {'start': '236.799', 'end': '242.239', 'text': 'whether asked or not, is doing a great'}, {'start': '239.680', 'end': '245.360', 'text': "service. But in Dawn's case, whether"}, {'start': '242.239', 'end': '247.519', 'text': 'whether it was the donation of a piano'}, {'start': '245.360', 'end': '250.239', 'text': 'or whether it was naming the Blackbox'}, {'start': '247.519', 'end': '252.400', 'text': 'Theater or whether it was this uh'}, {'start': '250.239', 'end': '254.640', 'text': 'scholarship he established of my name,'}, {'start': '252.400', 'end': '257.199', 'text': 'it was he who came forward with the idea'}, {'start': '254.640', 'end': '258.560', 'text': "to do so. I would say he's got the most"}, {'start': '257.199', 'end': '261.199', 'text': "school spirit of anyone that's never"}, {'start': '258.560', 'end': '263.199', 'text': 'gone to Hopstra for sure. And you know,'}, {'start': '261.199', 'end': '264.560', 'text': "I think it's his way of giving back to"}, {'start': '263.199', 'end': '266.400', 'text': 'the local community. He was always'}, {'start': '264.560', 'end': '268.320', 'text': 'involved from a standpoint of being a'}, {'start': '266.400', 'end': '270.639', 'text': 'local guy, being somebody who cared'}, {'start': '268.320', 'end': '272.800', 'text': 'about the university, whose clients were'}, {'start': '270.639', 'end': '275.520', 'text': 'involved with the university and you'}, {'start': '272.800', 'end': '278.000', 'text': 'know who wanted to play more of a role.'}, {'start': '275.520', 'end': '282.720', 'text': 'I believe it first started when they'}, {'start': '278.000', 'end': '287.120', 'text': "donated a piano um a Steinway. He's very"}, {'start': '282.720', 'end': '289.840', 'text': 'loyal to Ha. He contributes uh his time'}, {'start': '287.120', 'end': '292.880', 'text': 'a lot of a lot of time to Hofra because'}, {'start': '289.840', 'end': '295.919', 'text': 'he believes in it. He really is a very'}, {'start': '292.880', 'end': '298.160', 'text': 'special individual and because of his'}, {'start': '295.919', 'end': '301.160', 'text': 'involvement, I think Hopster is a better'}, {'start': '298.160', 'end': '301.160', 'text': 'place.'}, {'start': '303.280', 'end': '306.960', 'text': "Thanks for everything you've done, Don."}, {'start': '305.199', 'end': '309.440', 'text': 'Don, I want to just take this'}, {'start': '306.960', 'end': '311.199', 'text': 'opportunity to to say thank you for all'}, {'start': '309.440', 'end': '312.560', 'text': "you've done for Hollister and thank you"}, {'start': '311.199', 'end': '314.680', 'text': 'for being just a great guy.'}, {'start': '312.560', 'end': '317.360', 'text': 'Congratulations, Don. Don,'}, {'start': '314.680', 'end': '319.759', 'text': 'congratulations. You are such a'}, {'start': '317.360', 'end': '322.080', 'text': 'deserving honore. Don, I want to'}, {'start': '319.759', 'end': '325.520', 'text': 'congratulate you on on this really'}, {'start': '322.080', 'end': '329.199', 'text': "welldeserved honor. And knowing you, I'm"}, {'start': '325.520', 'end': '331.840', 'text': 'sure that it represents not the finale'}, {'start': '329.199', 'end': '333.759', 'text': 'for your career here at Hofra, but just'}, {'start': '331.840', 'end': '335.520', 'text': 'another milestone along the way. Well, I'}, {'start': '333.759', 'end': '337.120', 'text': 'just want to say thank you, Don. It it'}, {'start': '335.520', 'end': '339.919', 'text': 'really means a lot that you have put'}, {'start': '337.120', 'end': '342.440', 'text': 'your time, effort, and money in allowing'}, {'start': '339.919', 'end': '344.560', 'text': 'us students to share our stories.'}, {'start': '342.440', 'end': '347.280', 'text': 'Congratulations, Don, to you and to'}, {'start': '344.560', 'end': '350.240', 'text': "Joan. Thank you for what you've both"}, {'start': '347.280', 'end': '353.440', 'text': 'done for Hopstra. Congratulations, Don,'}, {'start': '350.240', 'end': '356.560', 'text': 'on this honor tonight. I have so much'}, {'start': '353.440', 'end': '358.160', 'text': 'admiration for your work on the board uh'}, {'start': '356.560', 'end': '361.120', 'text': 'and so much appreciation for your'}, {'start': '358.160', 'end': '364.080', 'text': 'friendship. Dad, we are so so proud of'}, {'start': '361.120', 'end': '366.240', 'text': 'you. Both Hoffra University and our'}, {'start': '364.080', 'end': '367.759', 'text': 'family are incredibly lucky to have you.'}, {'start': '366.240', 'end': '370.639', 'text': "I know that this is where I'm meant to"}, {'start': '367.759', 'end': '372.000', 'text': "be in the arts. And it wouldn't have"}, {'start': '370.639', 'end': '374.880', 'text': "happened if Hoffra didn't have the"}, {'start': '372.000', 'end': '378.000', 'text': "blackbox. if you hadn't been so generous"}, {'start': '374.880', 'end': '380.639', 'text': 'to give to Ha and make the blackbox'}, {'start': '378.000', 'end': '382.560', 'text': 'happen and make careers happen and make'}, {'start': '380.639', 'end': '384.560', 'text': 'dreams happen. So, I want to thank you'}, {'start': '382.560', 'end': '388.440', 'text': 'from the bottom of my heart and I'}, {'start': '384.560', 'end': '388.440', 'text': 'promise to pay it forward.'}, {'start': '390.080', 'end': '396.120', 'text': 'Congratulations, Mr. Schaefer, and thank'}, {'start': '392.240', 'end': '396.120', 'text': "you for everything you've done."}]