Ed Reiter (left), former senior chairman of Sky Financial Group, attends the announcement of a lectureship on values and ethics endowed by Sky Financial Group and Sky Bank in his and his wife, Linda's, names. Presenting the gift to the University was Marty Adams, chairman, president and CEO of Sky Financial Group.

Gift from Sky pays tribute to retiring executive Ed Reiter

Local financial services organization Sky Financial Group paid tribute to the leadership of retiring executive Ed Reiter Wednesday (Dec. 15) by announcing a major gift to the University.

As part of the $750,000 gift, Sky Financial Group and Sky Bank announced a $500,000 contribution to create the "Sky Bank - Edward and Linda Reiter Endowed Lectureship: Values and Ethics in the Workplace." The lectureship will be administered by BGeXperience: Values and Vision, a program to which the Reiters also have made a $250,000 commitment.

In addition to creating the endowed lectureship, Sky has designated the remainder of its gift, $250,000, for the support of other University projects in athletics and entrepreneurship.

"Sky is proud to be a longtime supporter of Bowling Green State University," stated Marty Adams, chairman, president and CEO of Sky Financial Group. "This is not only a great opportunity to support an innovative program like BGeXperience, but it gives Sky a chance to honor one of our greatest leaders, Ed Reiter. He and Linda have given so much to Sky and the community, this honor is something they truly deserve."

BGeXperience is a general education initiative that incorporates critical thinking about values in coursework, teaching students to think about their own values when making decisions in everyday life. This fall, about half of the University's first-year students took part in the program, which will be expanded to include all first-year students next year. Initiated by President Ribeau, it is thought to be the only program of its kind at a public university in the United States.

"Through their involvement in the community and the University, and in their day-to-day actions, Ed and Linda Reiter exemplify what it means to lead value-centered lives," noted Ribeau. "I am pleased that the Sky Financial Group has chosen to honor them in this manner and express support for Bowling Green's efforts to help students identify what matters to them and learn how to make decisions in keeping with those values."

Donald Nieman, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and director of BGeXperience, echoed Ribeau's sentiments.

"Sky's very generous gift is a wonderful tribute to Ed and Linda Reiter, who have been such good friends of BGSU," Nieman said. "It also enables us to take BGX in an important new direction by helping us encourage students to consider seriously the role of values in the workplace. The Sky Bank - Edward and Linda Reiter Endowed Lectureship creates a wonderful opportunity to enhance our efforts to educate students for lives as ethical leaders who will make a difference in their chosen professions."

Reiter served as senior chairman of Sky Financial Group from its creation in 1998 until his retirement in November. He previously was chair and chief executive of Mid Am Inc., the company's predecessor.
The recipient of many awards, he was named Bowling Green's Outstanding Citizen in 1990 and the following year, was presented the BGSU Alumni Community Award in recognition of his service and philanthropic endeavors. Reiter, current chair of the BGSU Foundation Inc., and his wife have been involved in more than 50 community organizations and activities.

Sky Financial Group is a $15 billion financial services company with headquarters in Bowling Green. Its financial services affiliates include Sky Bank, Sky Trust and Sky Insurance. For more information about Sky, go to its Web site at www.skyfi.com.

For more about BGeXperience, visit www.bgsu.edu/students/bgexperience/index.html.

Janna Carpenter, an Alumni Laureate Scholar, speaks about BGeXperience.