September 14, 2004

Annual Philanthropic Support for UC Santa Barbara Reaches a Record $80 Million in 2003-04

Eileen Conrad

Alumni and friends of UC Santa Barbara contributed a record $80 million to the campus in private philanthropic support during 2003-2004 for teaching, research, and programmatic support.

The year was the most successful ever for UCSB, surpassing the fund-raising achievement of the previous year by more than $30 million.

"This record level of philanthropic giving," said UCSB Chancellor Henry T. Yang, "reflects the continuous rise in stature of our campus and the superb quality and hard work of our top-notch faculty, bright students, dedicated staff, and loyal alumni, as well as the shared vision and dedication of our generous supporters."

The campus received a total of 21,895 gifts, up more than 30 percent from the previous year.

Major gifts and grants from individuals, foundations, and corporations were made to academic and research programs across the disciplines.

Private gifts for campus building projects also increased.

The Samuel B. and Margaret C. Mosher Foundation contributed $3 million toward the construction of the planned Mosher Alumni House.

In addition, leadership gifts for a Center for Film, Television and New Media included $2 million from Joseph and Helene Pollock and their family foundation for a public film theater and $1 million from academy-award winner Michael Douglas, an alumnus of UCSB.

A number of benefactors also made permanent investments in UCSB's future in the form of endowments amounting to more than $5.7 million.

Investment income generated by endowment gifts provides ongoing funding for specific purposes designated by donors.

A total of three endowed chairs were established: the Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation Chair in Functional Materials, the Edward Dickson Emeriti Professorship, and the Alan J. Heeger Chair in Interdisciplinary Science.

The Heeger chair is named in honor of the UCSB professor of physics and of materials who shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2000.

He is one of three UCSB professors who have won Nobel Prizes in recent years in fields outside their primary disciplines.

Other endowment gifts included $1.1 million from the J. E. & Lillian Tipton Foundation to establish a visiting professorship in Catholic Studies, and a $1 million bequest from William R. Moran, a noted discographer.

His gift will ultimately establish the William R. Moran Recorded Sound Archive in Special Collections to support the ongoing work by the UCSB Libraries to preserve and disseminate early sound recordings for use by scholars and enthusiasts.

Earlier in the year, Moran also donated $1.7 million to Special Collections for the completion of the Victor Project, a multi-volume encyclopedia cataloging all of the recordings made by the Victor Talking Machine Company from 1900 to 1950.

Corporate support for teaching, research, and academic programs increased by nearly 40 percent to more than $51 million.

Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd. donated $4.9 million for the Solid State Lighting and Display Center in the College of Engineering.

A number of sizable patent and equipment donations were also received from W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. and the Boeing Company.

Such gifts enhance engineering research and enable UCSB to develop the technologies for future commercialization and licensing.

Additional support for faculty research included $1 million from Laurence O. Pilgeram for research on the biochemistry and molecular biology of aging, and $1.2 million from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to advance the understanding of marine ecosystems along the West Coast.

"UC Santa Barbara is grateful for this significant increase in support from alumni and friends as the university continues to serve as a magnet for innovation in our society," said Gary Greinke, associate vice chancellor for development.

Private giving helps strengthen the institution at its core and build a margin of excellence.

The State of California provides only about 40 percent of UCSB's operating expenses.

"Private giving is essential to UCSB's continued success," said John M. Wiemann, vice chancellor for institutional advancement of which development is a part.

"That our donors recognize the importance of philanthropic support to this campus is extremely gratifying."

About UC Santa Barbara

The University of California, Santa Barbara is a leading research institution that also provides a comprehensive liberal arts learning experience. Our academic community of faculty, students, and staff is characterized by a culture of interdisciplinary collaboration that is responsive to the needs of our multicultural and global society. All of this takes place within a living and learning environment like no other, as we draw inspiration from the beauty and resources of our extraordinary location at the edge of the Pacific Ocean.