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Person

Cici Brown

Nationality:

American
Residence:

Ormond Beach, Florida
Occupation:

Philanthropist and Civic Leader

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Cynthia (Cici) Brown is a civic leader and philanthropist focused on supporting the Daytona Beach, Florida area. She and her husband, former Florida state House Speaker J. Hyatt Brown (D), are frequent donors to educational institutions and to the arts in this area. 1

In 2025, the Browns were listed as entry 20 in the Chronicle of Philanthropy’s “Philanthropy 50” list in recognition of a $150 million gift to the Museum of Arts and Sciences in Daytona Beach. Others on the list included Michael Bloomberg, Bill Gates, and Michele Kang. 2

Background

Cici Brown was born and raised in the Berkshires of Western Massachusetts. She graduated from Westbrook College, which is now the University of New England, in Portland, Maine and was a buyer for Saks Fifth Avenue in New York City. 1  3

She married J. Hyatt Brown in 1965. They had three sons and traveled extensively as a family. 1

In 2014, Brown was diagnosed with breast cancer and was treated with chemotherapy and radiation. After several months of treatment, she was deemed cancer-free. She continues to advocate for mammogram testing and early detection of breast cancer. 4

Hyatt Brown was a successful businessman in the insurance industry and a Florida politician. His father and a cousin founded Brown & Brown Insurance in 1939. He assumed control of the company in 1993, making it increasingly successful. As of 2025, he continued to serve as chairman of the company. 5 From 1972 to 1980, he was a Democratic Party member of the Florida House of Representatives and served as Speaker of the House for the last two years of his term. 6 7

Civic and Charitable Activities

Brown was involved in several civic and charitable organizations in Florida. She has been a sustaining member of the Junior League and on the board of the Florida Humanities Council for several years. She has worked with the Museum of Arts and Sciences in Daytona Beach, Florida since 1971 and was the president of its board of trustees for 3 years. She was a founding member of the Cultural Arts Council of Volusia County and was a board member for 12 years. 8

Brown has been involved with Stetson University in central Florida in several capacities. She was a member of the board of advisors for the College of Arts and Sciences for 12 years and a chair for one term. In 1999, she became a member of the Stetson University board of trustees and continued in that role for 15 years. In 2007, she was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters by the university. 8  9

Philanthropy

Cici and her husband Hyatt have focused their philanthropy on the Daytona Beach, Florida area with a focus on education and the arts. 1

In 2017, the Browns established the Brown Riverfront Esplanade Foundation and contributed $15 million in 2018 to renovate the Riverfront Esplanade, a city-owned riverfront park located just outside the Brown & Brown company headquarters in Daytona Beach. 10  11 As of 2025, Hyatt was the board chair and Cici was the vice chair of the foundation. 12

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is a frequent grantee of the Browns through a series of donations including a $25 million gift in 2022 to build the Cici and Hyatt Brown Center for Aerospace Technology. 13 This was Embry-Riddle’s largest gift received since it was founded in 1926. 14

The Browns have made several large donations to Stetson University. In 2014, they helped establish the Brown Center for Faculty Innovation and Excellence. In 2018, they gifted the university $18 million for a new science building and an expanded science curriculum. This was the largest donation in the university’s 135-year history. The new building opened in 2023 as the Cici and Hyatt Brown Hall for Health & Innovation. 15  6

In 2012, Cici and her husband Hyatt gave the Museum of Arts and Sciences $13 million to build the Cici and Hyatt Brown Museum of Art as an extension to the museum. It became the permanent home for the Brown’s collection of over 2,600 Florida-themed paintings which they also donated. The museum was reported to have the largest collection of Florida art in the world as of 2025. 4  16 In 2024, the Browns gave the Museum of Arts and Sciences $150 million to pay for the construction of a new main building and to turn the existing building into a children’s science center. 17 It was the largest contribution to the museum in its history. 18

The Browns also donated to the University of Florida, establishing three faculty endowments and supporting athletic and scholarship programs. 19

Recognition

In 2014, Stetson University awarded Cici and Hyatt Brown the George and Mary Hood Award which recognized their contributions to the university in both service and financial gifts. 9

In February 2025, Cici Brown was honored at the Daytona Regional Chamber’s annual meeting with the Glenn Ritchey Leadership Award for her contributions to the Daytona Beach region. 20

In 2025, the Browns were the winners of the first annual Daytona Beach News-Journal Impact Awards in recognition for their $150 million donation to the Museum of Arts and Sciences. 10

In 2025, the Browns were listed as entry 20 in the Chronicle of Philanthropy’s “Philanthropy 50” list in recognition of their $150 million gift to the Museum of Arts and Sciences in Daytona Beach, Florida. Others on the list included Michael Bloomberg, Bill Gates, and Michele Kang. 2

References

  1. Melissa Frankel. “Curiosity and Culture: The Brown Family’s Legacy of Exploration and Giving.” City Lifestyle. Accessed October 18, 2025. https://citylifestyle.com/articles/curiosity-and-culture
  2. Maria Di Mento. “Philanthropy 50.” The Chronicle of Philanthropy. March 4, 2025. Accessed October 18, 2025. https://www.philanthropy.com/article/the-philanthropy-50/#id=browse_2024
  3. “Cynthia R. Brown.” ExecAtlas. Accessed October 18, 2025. https://people.equilar.com/bio/person/cynthia-brown-stetson-university-inc/53606008
  4. Jim Haug. “Cici Brown talks about her battle with cancer, urges women to get mammograms.” The Daytona Beach News-Journal. June 17, 2016. Accessed October 18, 2025. https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/lifestyle/health-fitness/2016/06/17/cici-brown-talks-about-her-battle-with-cancer-urges-women-to-get-mammograms/27626158007/
  5. Sharon K. Moorhead. “J. Hyatt Brown Talks About Business, Florida, and Politics.” Property Casuualty 360. September 1, 2010. From Internet Archive WayBack Machine. Accessed October 18, 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20150924082443/http://www.propertycasualty360.com/2010/09/01/j-hyatt-brown-talks-about-business-florida-and-politics
  6. T.S. Jarmusz. “Hyatt and Cici Brown gift Stetson with $18M, school’s largest donation ever.” The Daytona Beach News-Journal. April 9, 2018. From Internet Archive WayBack Machine. Accessed October 18, 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20190411182808/https://www.news-journalonline.com/news/20180409/hyatt-and-cici-brown-gift-stetson-with-18m-schools-largest-donation-ever
  7. “Representative J. Hyatt Brown.” My Florida House. From Internet Archive Wayback Machine. Accessed October 18, 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20180129140627/http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/details.aspx?MemberId=2828
  8. “Cynthia R. (Cici) Brown.” Stetson University – Board of Trustees. Accessed October 18, 2025. https://www.stetson.edu/administration/trustees/c-r-brown.php
  9. “Stetson University Homecoming Alumni Awards.” Stetson Today. December 4, 2014. Accessed October 18, 2025. https://www2.stetson.edu/today/2014/12/stetson-university-homecoming-alumni-awards/
  10. John Dunbar. “News-Journal announces winners and honorable mentions in first-ever Impact Awards.” The Daytona Beach News-Journal. March 9, 2025. Accessed October 18, 2025. https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/local/2025/03/09/hyatt-and-cici-brown-win-impact-award-for-150-million-gift-to-museum/80271953007/
  11. Eileen Zaffiro-Kean. “Browns pledge $15 million to improve Daytona Beach’s Riverfront Park.” The Daytona Beach News-Journal. July 19, 2018. From Internet Archive WayBack Machine. Accessed October 18, 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20190411182808/https://www.news-journalonline.com/news/20180718/browns-pledge-15-million-to-improve-daytona-beachs-riverfront-park
  12. “Brown Riverfront Esplanade Foundation Inc.” Riverfront Esplanade. Accessed October 18, 2025. https://www.riverfrontesplanade.com/management-board
  13. “Game Changers: Cici and Hyatt Brown Invest in New Center for Aerospace Technology.” Giving To Embry-Riddle. Accessed October 18, 2025. https://givingto.erau.edu/impact/game-changers
  14. Ginger Pinholster. “Brown Pledge of $25 Million, State of Florida Match to Spur Growth in Innovation, Jobs.” LIFT – The Alumni Magazine of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Spring/Summer 2022. Accessed October 18, 2025. https://lift.erau.edu/brown-pledge-of-25-million-state-of-florida-match-to-spur-growth-in-innovation-jobs/
  15. “The Cici & Hyatt Brown Hall for Health & Innovation.” Stetson University. Accessed October 18, 2025. https://www.stetson.edu/administration/communications/media/brown-hall-assets/Brown%20Hall%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf
  16. “Cici and Hyatt Brown Museum of Art.” Museum of Arts & Sciences. Accessed October 18, 2025. https://www.moas.org/explore/cici-and-hyatt-brown-museum-of-art/index?gad_source=1
  17. Maria Di Mento. “Cici and Hyatt Brown.” The Chronicle of Philanthropy – Philanthropy 50. March 4, 2025. Accessed October 18, 2025. https://www.philanthropy.com/article/the-philanthropy-50/?sra=true#id=details_1553_2024
  18. “$150 million gift by Cici and Hyatt Brown to museum of arts and sciences seeks to turn a “hidden gem” into a “crown jewel” of the community.” Accessed October 18, 2025. https://lifestylesmagazine.com/latest-news/150-million-gift-by-cici-and-hyatt-brown-to-museum-of-arts-and-sciences-seeks-to-turn-a-hidden-gem-into-a-crown-jewel-of-the-community/
  19. David Finnerty. “Give Where You “Got”.” University of Florida. February 22, 2019. Accessed October 18, 2025. https://www.uff.ufl.edu/gatornation/give-where-you-got/
  20. “Daytona Regional Chamber’s 105th Annual Meeting presented by Halifax Health to Celebrate Business Community and Leaders.” Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce. January 7, 2025. Accessed October 18, 2025. https://www.daytonachamber.com/zupload/site-options/press-release—105th-annual-meeting—daytona-regional-chamber-of-commerce.pdf
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