A growing number of faculty and staff members at UC San Diego are investing in the future by supporting students through scholarships and fellowships in the university's first Faculty-Staff Campaign, a component of The Campaign for UCSD, a $1 billion fundraising effort that will conclude in June.

"This is an exciting time for UC San Diego, and I believe wholeheartedly that this is an investment in our future leaders, researchers, scientists and artists," said UC San Diego Chancellor Marye Anne Fox. "The momentum of our campaign success is a direct result of teamwork by many, including the UCSD community of current and former faculty and staff members."

UCSD Chancellor Marye Anne Fox has committed $100,000 from personal funds and direct gifts from others to establish the Marye Anne Fox and James Whitesell Endowed Scholarship Fund to provide need-based fee/tuition support for undergraduates at the university.

Ernie Mort, staff emeritus and retired dean of Revelle College, recently gave $60,000 to fund an endowed scholarship for study abroad. The Ernest Mort International Scholarship will provide funds to enable Revelle undergraduates to travel while they are studying abroad. "I feel very fortunate to have been involved in Revelle College for so long, and believe it's important to offer something back," he explained. "I would encourage more staff members to contribute to the university."

Pre-med superstar Lara Hamadani is attending UCSD, thanks to the executive director of the university's Alumni Association, John Valva. Hamadani, whose mother and father are both battling cancer and unable to work, is one of the recipients of the Patricia Ordonez Valva '92 Memorial Scholarship Endowment. The $30,000 endowment fund was established through gifts from Valva, as well as family and friends, in memory of his late wife. Endowments are permanent funds that are invested with the endowment pool of the UC Regents to appreciate in value and generate a growing stream of payout.

"Our goal was to establish a scholarship in Trish's memory at her beloved alma mater," said Valva. "The endowment is to help academically successful UCSD students who have significant financial need, and have either lost a parent or are experiencing cancer in their immediate family."

Added former staff member Darcy Bingham, "I believe UCSD is a tremendous resource for both our students and the general community." Darcy and Robert Bingham are playing a key role in the university's campaign by challenging employees to make a difference to deserving UCSD students. The couple provided a $50,000 challenge match to all staff members who donate to the UCSD Faculty-Staff Undergraduate Scholarship Endowment, which supports students of academic merit with financial need who are daughters and sons of UCSD employees.

Faculty and staff may designate their contribution to any area of UCSD that inspires them, whether it is science, scholarships, research, healthcare or the arts. Since The Campaign for UCSD was launched in July 2000, over 3,100 current and former faculty and staff members have contributed more than $14.9 million to the university through individual gifts, trusts, family foundations and gifts directed by faculty and staff to UCSD through other organizations. To learn more about the Faculty-Staff Campaign, please visit www.campaign.ucsd.edu/faculty-staff. UCSD employees can give securely online through payroll deduction or credit card at www.givetoucsd.ucsd.edu.