Lawyer who pitched UM stadium announces $10M donation to Palmetto Bay private school
After a week of making news around his vague plan to build a stadium for the University of Miami football team, Miami lawyer John Ruiz made another splash Thursday, announcing a $10 million donation to a well-known Miami-Dade County private school for a new sports facility.
Ruiz announced the donation at a news conference at Westminster Christian School in Palmetto Bay. School administrators said it was the largest gift in the school’s history.
The donation will fund the high school’s athletic complex, which will include a strength and conditioning facility and sports medicine components. Ruiz’s two sons — Alex and Johnny Ruiz — are alums of the school, where they played baseball before going on to play at the University of Miami.
Ruiz’s sons and daughter are executives at Miami powerboat company Cigarette Racing Team.
“My two boys attended Westminster and played baseball here, instilling great work ethic and character,” Ruiz said. “We have forged a strong bond with head baseball coach Emil Castellanos. We love him dearly and appreciate all he has done for our kids and other student athletes.”
About 1,280 students attend Westminster’s elementary, middle and high schools on its 31-acre campus. The school is known for its baseball and fine arts programs.
Westminster’s Head of School Scott Jones said the donation will have “a lasting and significant impact” on students.
“This gift creates incredible opportunity to continue to build upon this legacy,” he said.
Ruiz, of Medicare litigation firm MSP Recovery, made news on Sunday, expressing his interest in building a stadium for the University of Miami Hurricanes football team at Coral Gables Senior High School or elsewhere. He has gathered a team — including two firm employees and his three children — to lead the charge.
The idea didn’t land well with Miami-Dade County Schools Superintendent Alberto Carvalho or the city of Coral Gables.
This story was originally published December 9, 2021 at 11:40 AM.