Leonard H. Lavin is an American businessman, racehorse owner/breeder and philanthropist

Philanthropist

A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...

 who in 1955 founded the Alberto-Culver Company

Alberto-Culver

Alberto-Culver is an American corporation with international sales whose principal business is manufacturing hair and skin beauty care products under such brands as Alberto VO5, Andrew Collinge, St. Ives , TRESemmé, FDS, Consort, and Nexxus. It is a manufacturer in the multicultural beauty care...

. He serves as chairman emeritus of the company and is a director of the international manufacturer/distributor of personal care and household/grocery products. Lavin is also a director of Histogen, a regenerative medicine company based in San Diego, California

San Diego, California

San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...

.

Lavin studied at the University of Washington

University of Washington

University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...

 then served in the US Navy for four years. In 1947 he married Bernice Weiser, who went on to become an executive of Alberto-Culver and played an important part in the company's success. Among their philanthropic activities is the Bernice and Leonard H. Lavin Endowed Scholarship for Inner City Chicagoland Students at Lewis University

Lewis University

Lewis University is a private Roman Catholic and Lasallian university located in Romeoville, Illinois, United States . The enrollment is currently around 6,800 students...

 in Romeoville, Illinois

Romeoville, Illinois

Romeoville is a village in Will County, Illinois, United States. The population was 21,153 at the 2000 census. As of 2006 the population has grown to 36,837. It is located in the southwest suburban area of Chicago near the newly constructed I-355 extension south from the Stevenson Expressway to I-80...

, the Lavin VentureStart programs in the Entrepreneurial Management Center

Entrepreneurial Management Center

The Entrepreneurial Management Center within San Diego State University College of Business Administration was founded in 1986 and named “Nasdaq Center of Entrepreneurial Excellence” in 2000...

 at San Diego State University

San Diego State University

San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...

, and the Leonard and Bernice Lavin Entrepreneurial Action Program at the University of Washington.

Thoroughbred racing

Since the 1960s, Lavin has been involved in horse racing

Horse racing

Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...

. He owns Glen Hill Farm in Ocala, Florida

Ocala, Florida

Ocala is a city in Marion County, Florida. As of 2007, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 53,491. It is the county seat of Marion County, and the principal city of the Ocala, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated 2007 population of 324,857.-History:Ocala...

, where he breeds thoroughbred

Thoroughbred

The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...

s. In 1994 he was voted the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association's

Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association

The American Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association based in Lexington, Kentucky is a trade organization for Thoroughbred racehorse owners and breeders...

 Florida Breeder of the Year award. Among his best known horses are Relaunch

Relaunch (horse)

Relaunch was an American Thoroughbred racehorse. While he won five of his eighteen starts, he is best remembered as a sire at Wimbledon Farm in Lexington, Kentucky.Relaunch was the sire of:...

, an outstanding sire whose daughter One Dreamer

One Dreamer

One Dreamer is a retired American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 1994 Breeders' Cup Distaff.One Dreamer was bred and raced by the Glen Hill Farm of Ocala, Florida owned by Leonard H...

 won the 1994 Breeders' Cup Distaff,

Lavin is the author of Winners Make It Happen: Reflections of a Self-Made Man.