Frederick Ruiz is chairman emeritus and co-founder of Ruiz Foods. The University of California, Merced nominated Ruiz for his long-time support of the institution and the University of California system. Ruiz is a founding member of the UC Merced Foundation Board of Trustees and served as regent on the University of California's governing board from 2004 to 2016. His financial support includes several endowments, including the Ruiz Family Chair in Entrepreneurship; the Fred and Mitzie Endowed Fellowship for graduate students who contribute to diversity; and the Rose R. Ruiz Endowed Scholarship and Fellowship Fund to support first-generation college students. In addition, Ruiz was the lead donor in establishing a $1 million UC Merced Foundation Board of Trustees Presidential endowed chair, which will recognize an outstanding scholar at the campus.
About the award
The James L. Fisher Award for Distinguished Service to Education celebrates individuals, organizations, foundations, corporations or publications for their extraordinary contributions to education nationally or internationally. Presented for more than 60 years, the award was renamed in 1986 in honor of CASE’s second president.
