SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) December 12, 2001
___________________________
ALICO, INC.
____________________________________________________________________________
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Florida 0-261 59-0906081
____________________________________________________________________________
(State or other jurisdiction (Commission (IRS Employer
of incorporation) File Number) Identification No.)
Post Office Box 338, La Belle, Florida 33975
___________________________________________________________________________
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (863) 675-2966
_________________________
Item 5. Other Events
Incorporated by reference is a press release issued by the
Registrant on December 12, 2001, attached as Exhibit 01, providing
information concerning the Registrant's announcement of its
multi-million dollar gift to FGCU.
Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
( c ) Exhibit
Exhibit 01 - Press release issued December 12, 2001.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
ALICO, INC.
(Registrant)
/s/ W. Bernard Lester
December 13, 2001 By__________________________________
__________________ W. Bernard Lester, President
Date (Signature)
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
Number Description
01 Press release issued December 12, 2001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: W. Bernard Lester
Alico, Inc.
(863) 675-2966
FGCU ANNOUNCES MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR GIFT FROM ALICO, INC.
LaBelle, Fla. (Dec. 12, 2001) - Students at Florida Gulf Coast University
received an early Christmas present today when Ben Hill Griffin III, chief
executive officer and chairman of the board of Alico, Inc., announced that
the company will donate $5 million to assist with the completion and expansion
of the arena and to support athletic programs at the university. The
contribution qualifies FGCU for another $2.5 - 3 million through the state
matching fund program resulting in a total gift of up to $7.5 - 8 million.
Alico's $5 million gift will be used for student scholarships, athletics
program support and an enhanced arena floor plan to include additional seating
and academic space for instruction in sports management, exercise physiology,
athletic training and sports medicine. In recognition of the gift, the FGCU
arena will be named the Alico Arena and the entire athletic facility will be
named the Alico Athletics Complex. The Athletics Complex, which broke ground
in October, is scheduled to open in October 2002.
"Florida Gulf Coast University is extraordinarily blessed to have such
a strong supporter and friend in Alico, Inc. and Ben Hill Griffin III," said
FGCU President William C. Merwin. "Athletics play a uniquely positive role
in the life of a university, and today's generous gift will greatly advance
FGCU's athletics programs, while also helping to build student enrollment
through scholarship dollars and even greater connections with the communities
we serve. Our young women and men student-athletes reflect a positive FGCU
image in the community, and they join with us today in appreciation for
Alico's generosity and vision."
Alico's gift comes at a time when FGCU is developing 10 sports in
its athletics program to become eligible for Division II status in the
NCAA. The University is already participating in inter-collegiate sports
with its men's and women's tennis and golf teams. During 2002, men's
and women's basketball, women's softball and men's baseball will begin
competition, to be followed by men's and women's cross country/track.
"The Board of Directors of Alico, Inc. has been privileged to support
Florida Gulf Coast University and has taken great pride in the University's
accomplishments since it opened in 1997," said Griffin. "Our vision is for
FGCU to become one of Florida's finest institutions of higher learning.
We hope that today's gift will take the university to the next level by
creating an athletics program that instills school spirit and rallies
both students and residents throughout Southwest Florida in support of
this great university."
Griffin's support of FGCU began a decade ago when he learned of plans
to build the state's 10th university in Southwest Florida. Alico's gift to
the University included 760 prime acres for the campus site, a 215-acre land
endowment and funding for road construction and academic chairs. The gift
established the foundation for FGCU and was recognized as the largest single
contribution to the state university system at the time. Today, Griffin is
a member of the FGCU Foundation Board of Directors and Dr. Bernie Lester,
president and chief operating officer of Alico, Inc., is a member of the FGCU
Board of Trustees.
Alico, Inc., based in LaBelle, Florida, is an agribusiness company
primarily engaged in the production of citrus, cattle, sugarcane, sod and
forest products.
As an accredited comprehensive public university, FGCU addresses the
higher educational needs of Southwest Florida and provides a learning-centered
environment that offers high quality educational opportunities for the
public.