Cumberland Farms Chair Dedicates Wing at R.I. School
NEWPORT, R.I. — Lily Haseotes Bentas, chairman of the board at Cumberland Farms Inc., has welcomed students to a new academic wing at Salve Regina University.
The 23,000-square-foot academic wing was officially dedicated as the Lily Haseotes Bentas Center on Sept. 17. Sens. Jack Reed (R.I.-D) and Sheldon Whitehouse (R.I.-D) attended the event along with members of the Haseotes family and university representatives.
The Lily Haseotes Bentas Center will house the Department of Business Studies and Economics, along with its business outreach program, the Rodgers Family Department of Nursing, student common areas, classrooms, conference areas and faculty offices.
"Lily Bentas's support of Salve Regina extends far beyond the boardroom, proving that the values of family, friendship, community and corporate responsibility truly make a difference in this world," said University President Jane Gerety. "Lily has contributed greatly to the excellence of Salve Regina through her generosity of time, experience and resources. We will be forever grateful for her longtime friendship and support."
Bentas has been a university trustee since 2007. She received an honorary doctorate in business administration from Salve Regina University in 2006.
Among her contributions is the Lily Haseotes Bentas Scholarship in Business Studies, which is awarded to a female undergraduate who aspires to a career in business and who demonstrates a commitment to building community through ethical practice.
Bentas is the daughter of Vasilios and Aphrodite Haseotes, who started Cumberland Farms in 1939. She held numerous leadership positions at Cumberland Farms for 40 years and previously served on the board of directors for NACS, the Association for Convenience & Fuel Retailing.
"An inspiration and role model for all business people, most especially aspiring young, professional women, Lily has been my most trusted business partner and mentor in addition to being my beloved aunt," said Ari Haseotes, Cumberland Farms president and CEO. "Lily is the picture of humility and grace. Never forgetting the humble roots from which our family has come and always remembering that our success as a family in business is most heavily attributed to the many thousands whom we call members of our team and a commitment to continuously investing in our people and our business over the long term."