Who else can reporters call for more Marking the fifth consecutive year in which UCLA’s gift total has topped $250 million, Campaign UCLA received $278.1 million in private gifts and grants during fiscal year 2002?2003. The figure, which reflects gifts and pledges received between July 1, 2002, and June 30, 2003, signals the continuation of successful fund-raising performance despite the significant downturn in the local and national economy. It brings the total for the campaign over the $2.3-billion mark, equaling 96 percent of the $2.4-billion overall goal with a full two years remaining. “The broad range of private commitments has enabled the building of new facilities, expanded student support, enhanced interdisciplinary programs and accelerated landmark research advances,� said Chancellor Albert Carnesale. “Indeed, UCLA continues on its stellar course spurred on by the generosity of all our supporters, from the modest and heartfelt to the remarkable and visionary.� Launched in 1997 with an initial goal of $1.2 billion, Campaign UCLA remains the most ambitious fund-raising effort ever undertaken by a public university. Although it appears the campaign’s overall goal will be attained well before its target completion date, officials point out that there are still several priorities campuswide that remain unfulfilled. According to Dennis Slon, associate vice chancellor, development, “The success of Campaign UCLA to date offers us the opportunity to re-energize this effort, and focus on the emerging priorities of graduate fellowship support and funds for faculty recruitment and retention.� “Focusing our energies on these key goals for the remainder of the Campaign will ultimately help UCLA to retain its competitive advantage among top universities nationwide,� added Campaign UCLA Chairman Bob Wilson. In marked contrast to previous years, only 3 percent of the gifts received during the 2002?2003 fiscal year are unrestricted, underscoring the need for flexible funds to support the university’s highest priorities; 97 percent are designated for specific purposes. Designated gifts and pledges are as follows: Research--$87.3 million; 32.3percent Academic Programs--$117.9 million; 43.7percent Scholarships/Fellowships--$15.6 million; 5.8percent Instruction--$15.4 million; 5.7percent Campus Improvement--$26.5 million; 9.8percent Other activities--$7.3 million; 2.7percent
Sources of contributions break down as follows:
Alumni--$29.2 million; 10.5 percent Non-alumni--$76 million; 27.3 percent Independent Foundations--$55.6 million; 20 percent Other Nonprofits--$18.4 million; 6.6 percent Corporations--$31.6 million; 11.4 percent Campus Organizations--$3.9 million; 1.4 percent Estates--$63.4 million; 22.8 percent Among the highlights of the past year was a $48-million bequest from UCLA alumna Emily Plumb to support the Jules Stein Eye Institute. Plumb, who graduated from UCLA’s Vermont Avenue campus in 1927, continued something of a Plumb family tradition: Her sister-in-law, Edith Agnes Plumb, had bequeathed $22.5 million to the university in support of medical research upon her death in 1995. In the UCLA College, English Professor Tom Wortham bolstered the effort to provide competitive fellowship packages by establishing the George Chavez Endowed Graduate Fellowship, named in honor of his late partner. As chair of the department, Wortham knows well the importance of recruiting superior graduate students. The emerging field of nanoscience was given a boost with the creation of the Fred Kavli Chair in Nanosystems Science at UCLA. The chair, engendered by a $1-million gift from physicist and business leader Fred Kavli, is considered a key element in ensuring the success of the California NanoSystems Institute, a collaboration between UCLA and UC Santa Barbara. Based at UCLA, the institute is designed to hasten scientific and engineering research in fields key to the future of California’s economy. The arts at UCLA will be enhanced by a $5-million gift from The Skirball Foundation to support the renovation of the Geffen Playhouse. An important component of UCLA’s theater program, the playhouse will undergo improvements including a new stage and rehearsal hall, expanded seating capacity, and several audience amenities. A $9.6-million pledge by philanthropist Gerald H. Oppenheimer will expand programs in “complementary, alternative and integrative medicine� — a wide category of health care devoted to remedies not presently considered part of conventional medicine, such as acupuncture, chiropractic and herbal remedies. The resources will help faculty apply rigorous scientific methods to evaluate such unconventional but promising methods of treatment. In addition, innovative research at the Graduate School of Education & Information Studies will be advanced through a $1.9-million grant from the John Templeton Foundation. The grant supports a unique national study of college students’ attitudes toward spirituality and religion, conducted by Professor Helen Astin.