Warrington launches Ignite Impact Leadership Program thanks to Silverstein Family gift
A transformative $1.55 million gift from the Silverstein family will establish the Ignite Impact Leadership Program at the University of Florida’s Warrington College of Business. This multi-year gift enables the scaling of UF’s successful social entrepreneurship programs while honoring the legacies of Drs. Janet and Burt Silverstein.
The Ignite Impact Leadership Program, which launched in January 2025, will assist other colleges and universities across the nation in implementing offerings, like Warrington’s Impact Consulting courses and Impact Internships, both of which help students to earn Impact Scholar Awards. Through the UF Impact Scholar Award program, students study, practice and create impact in addition to sharing their impact stories while learning from and collaborating with local impact-focused entrepreneurs.
Dr. Kristin Joys, who founded UF’s Social Impact & Sustainability Initiative in 2005, will direct the program.
“Through this generous gift, we’ll be able to research and define best practices, develop innovative curricula, and partner with organizations to create exponential impact,” said Joys. “We can now grow the impact of our work in educating and empowering the next generation of social entrepreneurs, impact leaders and changemakers.”
The launch of the Ignite Impact Leadership Program marks a new chapter in scaling UF’s proven approach to empowering students with the skills, mindsets, and competencies needed to create lasting positive impact in their careers, communities, and beyond.
Since 2005, UF’s Social Impact & Sustainability Initiative in Warrington’s Entrepreneurship & Innovation Center has demonstrated significant impact, engaging over 2,200 students in 56 social entrepreneurship-focused courses. Students have contributed more than 111,850 volunteer hours with nearly 250 local ventures (for-profits, non-profits, and hybrids), creating over $2.8 million in value in the greater-Gainesville community.
The new Ignite Impact Leadership Program will advance causes championed by both Drs. Janet & Burt Silverstein, including health and wellbeing, education, the environment, food security and stable housing.
The gift honors two distinguished physicians whose careers exemplified impact leadership. Dr. Janet Silverstein served for over four decades as a renowned pediatric endocrinologist at UF Health Shands, where she directed the Pediatric Diabetes Clinic and founded the Pediatric Obesity Clinic. She also served as Medical Director of the Florida Camp for Children and Youth with Diabetes for over 40 years. Dr. Burt Silverstein was a distinguished cardiologist with the Cardiovascular Institute, for whom the “Silverstein Endowed Chair for Cardiology Education” was named at the UF College of Medicine.
