UC Irvine raises $130.03 million, setting campus record

Chancellor indebted to alumni and community for contributing to success

Irvine, Calif., July 2008

Private gifts and grants to the University of California, Irvine reached another milestone during the 2007-08 fiscal year with a record $130.03 million received from 27,969 total gifts.

The fundraising total breaks UCI’s record of $120.1 million donated during the previous fiscal year. The gift total also is up 1,000 over last year.

According to Chancellor Michael V. Drake, M.D., the record-breaking private support is sparking advances that keep UC Irvine at the forefront of research, education and public service.

“Our campus is shaping the future of issues that we all care deeply about,” Drake said. “Our alumni and friends are helping us improve human health, find real solutions to the energy crisis, protect the environment and thrive in the global economy. We are deeply grateful to our supporters for their commitment to preparing tomorrow’s leaders as well as meeting today’s challenges.”

Private gifts and grants help the university achieve academic and research excellence in areas not fully funded by state sources. Increased community support of UCI programs across many disciplines helped the campus break its fundraising record this year.

UCI’s fundraising success was recently acknowledged by a 2008 WealthEngine Award from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. The award, for overall improvement, recognizes UCI’s office of University Advancement for generating exceptional fundraising growth over the past three years. The advancement program has increased private giving by 70 percent since fiscal year 2004-05.

“UCI is a young, innovative and dynamic university that excels at interdisciplinary collaboration, both on the campus and in the community,” said Thomas J. Mitchell, vice chancellor of University Advancement and president of The University of California, Irvine Foundation. “Our past and future successes hinge on the tremendous partnership we share with the Orange County community, and we are indebted to our many alumni and friends for their enduring support.”

The fiscal-year fundraising total is the capstone to a year of campus achievements that included the hiring of renowned legal scholar Erwin Chemerinsky as founding dean of the new School of Law; a UCI event fundraising record of $1.8 million raised for scholarships, fellowships and key programs at A Celebration of Stars – The 2007 Medal Awards gala; eight UCI professors elected as fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science; a $27.2 million award from the state for a new stem cell research building; and new advances in cancer care and research.