More than a half-century ago Allan, B.B.A. ’55, M.B.A. ’58, and Patricia, B.B.A. ’57, “Patti” Herbert fell in love with each other and the University of Miami. Now they’re sharing that lifelong affair with UM’s state-of-the-art Wellness Center on the Coral Gables campus through an $8 million gift to enhance programming.

“They got this place right the first time,” Patti says of the 120,000-square-foot facility, which opened in 1996. The Herberts, who split their time between Beverly Hills and Miami Beach, frequent the building now known as the Patti and Allan Herbert Wellness Center.

They appreciate the fitness opportunities and health education it offers people of all ages because they’ve experienced the impact of healthy living first-hand. Patti survived cancer and Allan a heart attack, “but the reason we’re alive,” Allan insists, “is because we’ve always been fit.”

The concept of fitness, though, has come a long way since the Herberts attended college in the 1950s. “The word ‘wellness’ hadn’t even been invented,” Allan notes. “We had no gym.”

Norm Parsons, director of the Herbert Wellness Center, says the couple’s extraordinary donation will keep the center on the cutting edge of programming, activities, and services.

The Herberts see it as their duty and honor to help UM stay in top shape.

Although they are Iron Arrow honor society and President’s Circle members who built successful careers—Patti as a real estate broker and Allan as a Fortune 500 executive—the Herberts supported their alma mater early on, even when money was tight.

In 2004 they created the “Love Bridge” endowment to support the ’Canes Health Assessment and Motivation Program, which provides students and members of the Wellness Center and Coral Gables communities with comprehensive fitness assessment.

“All successful alumni owe it to their university to repay them in some way for the education and opportunities they received while in school,” Allan says. “We owe it all to the University of Miami.”