Amy Hagedorn ’05 (Hon.) and Horace Hagedorn ’01 (Hon.)

Their generosity brought new energy to the University’s business school and their philanthropy continues to help educate students, faculty and members of the greater community on corporate responsibility.

The late Horace Hagedorn, the founder of Miracle-Gro and a preeminent philanthropic voice in the Long Island region, is remembered for his incredible tenacity and success, as well as his generosity of spirit. Adelphi’s business faculty and students work and learn in the Hagedorn Hall of Enterprise, and an annual lecture series on corporate social responsibility bears the family’s name.

In honor of his many contributions to the regional community, and to Adelphi, Horace was awarded an honorary degree in May 2001. His wife, Amy, who passed away in 2016, was similarly honored in 2005, and has been a driving force behind the University’s commitment to early childhood education. She was instrumental in the naming of the Early Learning Center after its longtime director, Alice Brown.

The Horace and Amy Hagedorn Fund at the Long Island Community Foundation has contributed tens of millions of dollars to more than 500 nonprofit organizations. Amy also served as the president of Sustainable Long Island, a not-for-profit organization she helped to create which is dedicated to promoting environmentally responsible community and economic development and social equity.