CON Home 40 Founder Christine Lynn Bio

Christine E. Lynn

Christine Lynn

Christine E. Lynn, the College’s namesake philanthropist, is a businesswoman dedicated to improving care and nursing education. Her growing legacy improves the health, education and welfare of the people of South Florida.

Mrs. Lynn was born in Denmark and received her education in Oslo, Norway. A former registered and surgical nurse, she is deeply committed to healthcare and has been a major benefactor of numerous community projects.

Many local buildings, schools and medical facilities carry the Lynn name in recognition of her dedication and support in the community. She is the principal philanthropist to the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing at FAU, Christine E. Lynn Center for Caring, Anne Boykin Institute for the Advancement of Caring in Nursing, and Nursing Assistant Scholarships, as well as the Boca Raton Regional Hospital’s Christine E. Lynn Heart and Vascular Institute, the Eugene and Christine Lynn Cancer Institute, and the Christine E. Lynn Women’s Health and Wellness Institute.

She is Trustee of the E.M. Lynn Foundation, established by her late husband, Eugene M. Lynn. Mrs. Lynn has been a major donor to Lynn University, Boca Raton Regional Hospital, Florida Atlantic University, Stetson University, The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, Hospice, The American Heart Association, Florence Fuller Child Development Center, Boys & Girls Clubs and many other local charities.

Mrs. Lynn serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Boca Raton Regional Hospital and Lynn University, and is a member of the Board of Trustees of Stetson University, her late husband’s alma mater.

She has received numerous awards, including honorary Doctorates from Lynn University, Florida Atlantic University, Stetson University, St. Anselm University and Irish American University, Dublin. In 2013, Mrs. Lynn received the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor, an award that pays tribute to the contributions made to America by immigrants.

Mrs. Lynn is proud of the direct impact the College and her gifts have had to improve wellness in the community. “When I first came to Boca, it was kind of a sleepy town. And now, 40 years later, I see such growth in different areas of healthcare. It’s amazing that people do not need to leave Boca to get care.” She’s also glad that many of the 1,200 students enrolled in the College of Nursing remain in practice in South Florida, and is proud of the care FAU provides through community outreach centers like the FAU Community Health Center, and aiding individuals with memory disorders and their families through the Louis and Anne Green Memory and Wellness Center, as well as through partnerships with Boca Raton Regional Hospital and others.

She said, “After I’m gone, I’ll leave a legacy for people to enjoy and to be cured and be cared for, and to me, that’s the best gift I could ask for.”