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RIVERSIDE, Calif. (www.ucr.edu) -- The University of California, Riverside has doubled the amount of money raised in private gifts and pledges over the previous year, Chancellor France A. Córdova announced Wednesday.

In 2004-05, the university raised $20 million in private support. In 2005-06, that number jumped to a record $40.1 million.

“It is highly unusual for a UC campus to double its fund-raising totals from one year to the next,” said June Smith, director of development policy and administration at the University of California Office of the President. “It’s a phenomenal increase.” Smith said that within the UC system, approximately half of all private funds raised go to programs in the health sciences.

In June, Bart and Barbara Singletary and William and Toby Austin together gave $15.5 million in separate charitable trusts. The Singletary trust supports endowed professorships at UC Riverside in the social sciences, public policy and agriculture. The Austin trust supports endowed professorships in medical education.

“Donors are investing in projects that will have widespread impact for the health and well-being of inland Southern California,” Córdova said. “I am grateful to the deans, faculty and the members of our advancement team who have worked so hard to communicate the important educational impact of the campus.”

"Philanthropy is increasingly important to the University of California because the state government today provides less than one-fifth of the University's annual operating budget," said Bruce B. Darling, executive vice president for university affairs at the UC Office of the President. "Philanthropy is essential to maintain the University's excellence and student access."

Other recent gifts to UC Riverside include:
• $1.6 million grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute for biomedical student preparation.
• $1.5 million from the W.M. Keck Foundation for environmental research.
• $1.5 million pledge for innovation in teaching.
• $1 million gift for an endowed chair in cancer research
• $1 million gift from the Gluck Foundation for arts outreach.
• $1 million from the Bernard Osher Foundation for a learning program for seniors.
• $500,000 gift from Ron and Margaret Redmond to finish the alumni and visitor’s center.
• $500,000 gift from the estate of Rosalie Ketchersid for scholarships.
• A record $450,000 total for the UCR Fund, an annual telephone campaign to alumni.
• $240,000 gift from California Wellness to support the FastStart program.

UCR Vice Chancellor for Advancement Bill Boldt joined UCR in late 2004 after more than a decade of fund-raising success at Cal Poly. He hired UCR’s Associate Vice Chancellor for Development Susan Harlow, who then led a reorganization of the development operation.

“That we have been able to accomplish so much so quickly speaks volumes about the generosity of the supporters of UCR and of the vision the Chancellor has articulated,” said Harlow, who came to UCR in May, 2005 from Childrens Hospital Los Angeles.

Last month, the Chronicle of Higher Education, which covers the nation’s colleges and universities, carried a story about how UCR earned a gift from Austin and Singletary that might have gone to other institutions.

"William Austin was being courted by several other universities for donations,” Boldt said. “Then he heard that we were creating a medical school. He liked the idea that his money could help the community have better access to quality health care.”

Singletary, a mid-life graduate of UCR and Austin’s long-time business partner, wanted to support endowed chairs in the social sciences.

“Together they made a powerful difference in UCR’s future,” Boldt said.

The University of California, Riverside (www.ucr.edu) is a doctoral research university, a living laboratory for groundbreaking exploration of issues critical to Inland Southern California, the state and communities around the world. Reflecting California's diverse culture, UCR's enrollment of about 18,000 is expected to grow to 21,000 students by 2020. The campus is planning a medical school and has reached the heart of the Coachella Valley by way of the UCR Palm Desert Graduate Center. The campus has an annual statewide economic impact of more than $1 billion.

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