Gary Winnick rebuilds

The fallen telecom star is using his  talents to focus on a new kind of infrastructure.

By Rupali Arora, contributor

Of all the bubbles that burst during the dotcom era, few popped louder than Gary Winnick’s Global Crossing. The California entrepreneur, who built a network of undersea fiber-optic cables, became one of telecom’s richest superstars. Though Global Crossing never posted a profit, its stock price grew and Winnick cavorted in a fleet of corporate jets and a $90 million Bel Air, Calif., estate.

(Read more via Fortune.)

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Best Friends Animal Society Lauds Winnick Family Foundation for Its Support of Navajo Nation Veterinary Care and Youth Education Programs

A humane education program worked with ninety teens who were interested in becoming veterinarians or veterinary-medicine technicians. The students were able to arrange a free spay-neuter day that saw twenty cats and dogs fixed and vaccinated, found permanent homes for 50 abandoned, free-roaming dogs and set up three runs into remote areas to rescue dogs in danger.

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) December 13, 2010 — The Best Friends Animal Society of Kanab, Utah has lauded the Winnick Family Foundation for its support of the Society’s veterinary services and youth education programs within the Navaho Nation.

Anne Mejia, co-founder of Best Friends Animal Society in Kanab, said: “We very much appreciate the support received for our work from the Winnick Foundation. Through your generous help, you have once again touched the lives of the animals and people of the Navaho Nation.”

The Best Friends Animal Society is dedicated to the humane treatment and medical care of small pets and stray animals. In 2010, the Society’s program, supported in part by a Winnick Family Foundation grant, has provided treatment for more than 200 at-risk animals and given more than 4,000 pounds of animal food and nourishment to pet-owning Navaho families in need.

A humane education program sponsored by the Society in 2010 worked with ninety teens at Monument Valley High School interested in becoming veterinarians or veterinary-medicine technicians. Working with the program, the young students arranged a free spay-neuter day that saw twenty cats and dogs fixed and vaccinated, found permanent homes for 50 abandoned, free-roaming dogs and set up three runs into remote areas to rescue dogs in danger.

Gary Winnick, founder and chairman of Pacific Capital Group, said: “The Best Friends Animal Society in Kanab is doing remarkable work and setting a standard for the humane treatment of small animals across the vast territory of the Navaho Nation. We are very proud to support Society’s work and delighted that it has been able to not only care for at-risk animals but to encourage young Navahos to enter veterinary medicine.”
About the Winnick Family Foundation

The Winnick Family Foundation encourages project-specific programs but also selectively supports capital campaigns and unrestricted gifts to grantee organizations. There is a preference for projects in Los Angeles and New York – or for those having an international component.

Foundation naming grants include:

• Winnick Family Clinical Research Institute at Cedars Sinai Hospital
• Winnick House at the C.W. Post campus of Long Island University
• Arnold S. Winnick Student Center at the C.W. Post campus of Long Island University
• Winnick International Conference Center at the Simon Wiesenthal Center / Jerusalem
• Winnick Children’s Zoo in Los Angeles
• Winnick Faculty Scholar at the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University
• Winnick Hall at the Skirball Cultural Center
• Arnold & Blanche Winnick Popular Library and Karen Winnick Children’s Gallery at the Los Angeles Central Library
• Winnick Hillel House at Syracuse University
• Winnick Board Room at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City
• Winnick Winners Mentoring Program for the Los Angeles Unified School District
• Winnick Fellows at UCLA School of Medicine
• Winnick Gallery at Yeshiva University Museum, Center for Jewish History

Karen and Gary Winnick and the Foundation have endowed university and high school literacy and scholarship programs at Brown University, at Mrs. Winnick’s alma mater Syracuse University, and at Gary Winnick’s alma mater, Long Island University.

They have also funded the transformation of the on-campus C.W. Post mansion administrative center – renamed Winnick House – as well as the main cafeteria which is now named in honor of Mr. Winnick’s late father.

In California, the Foundation has supported educational programs at the California Science Center, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, KOREH L.A., the Los Angeles Zoo, L.A.’s Best Afterschool Program, the Wonder of Reading, the Fulfillment Fund and Noah’s Ark at the Skirball Center.

Among the many other Foundation grantees are the Special Olympics, The Center for Jewish History, Children’s Scholarship Fund, Partnership for Better Schools, Teach for America, The Gettysburg Foundation, The National Parks Foundation, Best Friends Animal Society, The Los Angeles Police Foundation, Shoah Foundation, and the Center for Public Leadership at Harvard University.

The Foundation also supports charities operating outside the United States, including the International Medical Corps, Flora and Fauna, World Wildlife Fund, the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, the Israel Museum, the Israel Philharmonic, the Jerusalem Zoo, Heifer International and the Bloomfield Science Museum at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. For more information on the Foundation and its work, visit http://www.winnickfamilyfoundation.com on the Web.

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Gary Winnick and Martin Granoff Chair at Columbia Business School Awarded to Daniel Paravisini

Dr. Paravisini’s breakthrough research work on economic shocks has won serious attention in financial and banking circles and been featured during lectures at prestigious university venues and the Federal Reserve Banks of Philadelphia, New York, and San Francisco.

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) December 10, 2010 — The Trustees of Columbia University have announced the appointment of Dr. Daniel Paravisini as the Gary Winnick and Martin Granoff Associate Professor of Business.

Dr. Paravisini earned a Ph.D. in economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2005. He had previously received an MBA from the Instituto de Estudios Superiores de Administración in Caracas, Venezuela in 1997 and a BS cum laude in mechanical engineering from the Univesidad Simón Bolívar in 1994. He joined Columbia Business School in 2005 as an assistant professor and has served as an associate professor since 2009.

Gary Winnick, Founder and Chairman of Pacific Capital Group, said: “Professor Paravisini is a wonderful choice. He is widely respected by his peers for his research on the relationship of reputation and credit. He is also one of the most extraordinary and popular teachers on the Columbia University campus, having taught corporate finance to student acclaim at Columbia Business School since 2006.”

In 2010, Dr. Paravisini received the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching a Core Course and the Charles River Associates Award for Best Paper on Corporate Finance. Dr. Paravisini’s breakthrough research work on economic shocks has won serious attention in financial and banking circles and been featured during lectures at prestigious university venues and the Federal Reserve Banks of Philadelphia, New York, and San Francisco. His articles appear regularly in the premier publications in his field.

Glenn Hubbard, Dean of Columbia Business School, said: “Our deepest thanks for the Winnick Family Foundation support of this professorship. Professor Paravisini’s exceptional accomplishments in research, writing and teaching, as well as his tremendous reputation in his field, are a credit to the School of Business and Columbia University.”

About the Winnick Family Foundation

The Winnick Family Foundation encourages project-specific programs but also selectively supports capital campaigns and unrestricted gifts to grantee organizations. There is a preference for projects in Los Angeles and New York – or those having an international component. Foundation naming grants include:

* Winnick Family Clinical Research Institute at Cedars Sinai Hospital
* Winnick House at the C.W. Post campus of Long Island University
* Arnold S. Winnick Student Center at the C.W. Post campus of Long Island University
* Winnick International Conference Center at the Simon Wiesenthal Center / Jerusalem
* Winnick Children’s Zoo in Los Angeles
* Winnick Faculty Scholar at the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University
* Winnick Hall at the Skirball Cultural Center
* Arnold & Blanche Winnick Popular Library and Karen Winnick Children’s Gallery at the Los Angeles Central Library
* Winnick Hillel House at Syracuse University
* Winnick Board Room at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City
* Winnick Winners Mentoring Program for the Los Angeles Unified School District
* Winnick Fellows at UCLA School of Medicine
* Winnick Gallery at Yeshiva University Museum, Center for Jewish History

Karen and Gary Winnick and the Foundation have endowed university and high school literacy and scholarship programs at Brown University, at Mrs. Winnick’s alma mater Syracuse University, and at Gary Winnick’s alma mater, Long Island University.

They have also funded the transformation of the on-campus C.W. Post mansion administrative center – renamed Winnick House – as well as the main cafeteria which is now named in honor of Mr. Winnick’s late father.

In California, the Foundation has supported educational programs at the California Science Center, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, KOREH L.A., the Los Angeles Zoo, L.A.’s Best Afterschool Program, the Wonder of Reading, the Fulfillment Fund and Noah’s Ark at the Skirball Center.

Among the many other Foundation grantees are the Special Olympics, The Center for Jewish History, Children’s Scholarship Fund, Partnership for Better Schools, Teach for America, The Gettysburg Foundation, The National Parks Foundation, Best Friends Animal Society, The Los Angeles Police Foundation, Shoah Foundation, and the Center for Public Leadership at Harvard University.

The Foundation also supports charities operating outside the United States, including the International Medical Corps, Flora and Fauna, World Wildlife Fund, the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, the Israel Museum, the Israel Philharmonic, the Jerusalem Zoo, Heifer International and the Bloomfield Science Museum at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. For more information on the Foundation and its work, visit http://www.winnickfamilyfoundation.com on the Web.

Pacific Capital Group Announces Jimmy Delshad Has Joined as Vice Chairman and Managing Director

Jimmy Delshad, Mayor of Beverly Hills, California, has joined Pacific Capital Group as Vice Chairman and Managing Director. Pacific Capital Group is an investment group based in Los Angeles.

Gary Winnick, Chairman and Chief Executive of Pacific Capital Group, said: “Jimmy Delshad is an internationally recognized authority on the use of advanced ‘smart’ technologies in city management and law enforcement to dramatically improve life, services and safety in the community. Beverly Hills has implemented Mayor Delshad’s smart-system innovations, pioneering a path to achieving efficiencies that can be applied to government at every level. We are happy that one of the nation’s leading experts in this growing field is joining our firm.”

Stated Jimmy Delshad: “During a 30-year career in venture capital, Gary Winnick has been able to see ahead with great clarity, participating in the transformation of industry after industry – from finance to telecommunications and beyond. I believe he sees, as I do, that it is now time to apply those convergent technologies – so-called smart systems bringing together sensors, networks, communications and computerization – to the public sector. I am very happy to continue my role in that revolution by joining Pacific Capital Group.”

Mr. Delshad created and promoted the Smart City Initiative in the City of Beverly Hills during his tenure on the City Council and as the city’s two-term Mayor. Under that initiative, the City has funded innumerable smart-tech innovations – networking fiber optic and wireless systems to link police surveillance cameras, traffic lights, sprinkler and water meter systems, parking meters, auto license plate readers, disaster operation centers, and new, state-of-the-art interoperable communication systems.

Mr. Delshad was twice-elected Mayor of the City of Beverly Hills and has served on the Beverly Hills City Council since 2003. He is the highest ranking Iranian- American elected official in the United States. During Mr. Delshad’s most recent term as mayor, The City of Beverly Hills achieved a balanced budget, an AAA municipal bond rating, and the broadest international brand recognition in municipal history.

Mr. Delshad was founder and chief executive officer of American International Business, a manufacturer of computer storage technologies, with offices in the United States, Germany, Belgium and the United Kingdom. He currently serves on the board of directors of several international corporations, including Dream Team Gaming, a casino gaming developer; and International Packaging Company, a paper and cardboard manufacturer with operations in China and the United States.

Mr. Delshad was the first Iranian-born President of Sinai Temple in Los Angeles and has also served on the board of many not-for-profit organizations including Friends of Sheba Medical and Maple Counseling Center. He is currently on the board of directors of the Iranian-American Jewish Federation and Magbit Educational Foundation where he was both President and Chairman of the Board.

Mr. Delshad was recently named as one of the 10 Most Politically Influential Jews in America by Forward Magazine. He has a BS degree in Computer Sciences from California State University, Northridge and an Honorary PhD from American Liberty University.

About Pacific Capital Group

Pacific Capital Group, Inc. (“PCG”) is an investment firm, based in Los Angeles. The firm was founded in 1985 by financier and philanthropist Gary Winnick who is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

Mr. Winnick has sourced in excess of $100 billion to fund corporate innovation and transformative new technologies and has provided capital and counsel to hundreds of companies in the global economy.

Pacific Capital Group is involved in a broad range of industries that include financial services, clean technology, telecommunications, healthcare, and real estate.

Mr. Winnick, and the companies he founded, Global Crossing and Asia Global Crossing, built the first integrated fiber optic network, a 130,000-mile global IP-based system connecting continents and countries around the world. The Global Crossing Network services 40 percent of the Fortune 500 and connects 700 cities in 70 countries.

Before founding Pacific Capital Group, Mr. Winnick was Senior Vice President of Drexel Burnham Lambert in that firm’s high yield and convertible bond group which transformed the face of corporate finance and Wall Street.

Mr. Winnick is a member of the board of the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) and the Simon Wiesenthal Center and he is a recipient of the Wiesenthal Center’s Humanitarian Laureate Award. In 2004, he received an Honorary Doctorate from Long Island University, his alma mater.