Embry-Riddle lost great friends with the passing of Jay Adams, and later, his wife Leila. View Jay’s full obituary here. A tribute to Leila is online here.
Jay and Leila Adams were a remarkable force for good in our community. Embry-Riddle benefited directly from their generosity and tireless advocacy for Daytona Beach. Jay Adams was instrumental in bringing Embry-Riddle to Daytona Beach in 1965, and he made a long-term commitment to see that the university would thrive here.
We owe a debt of gratitude to Jay for his service as a chair and member of our Board of Trustees. In his 41 years as a board member, he worked with every president of the university. Jay was also a passionate fan of Embry-Riddle Athletics and our commitment to the Student-Person-Player model for student-athletes.
Please help us honor the towering legacy of Jay and Leila Adams with a donation to support the Athletic Endowed Scholarship that bears their name.
Join our entire Board of Trustees, who in July 2022 contributed lead gifts to a continuing fund-raising effort in honor of Jay and Leila Adams. Funds from this ongoing initiative provide scholarship support to deserving Embry-Riddle student-athletes. Athletic facilities are also being improved: A locker room and a fan zone inside the ICI Center at Embry-Riddle, honoring Jay and Leila Adams, will be unveiled during this year’s basketball season.
Please make your gift by filling out the form below. Thank you.