UCR Newsroom

RIVERSIDE – The University of California, Riverside raised more than $20.5 million in cash private support last fiscal year, a four percent drop from the previous year.

“This level of giving is very heartening in light of the significant decline over the last year in the assets of both foundations and individuals,” said Georgia Elliott, interim associate vice chancellor for development, noting that some campuses cash fundraising totals dropped by 50 percent or more.

“It is a tribute to the loyalty of our donors in these turbulent times that they continue to be so generous in support of UCR,” she said. “It is also a testament to the positive impact that Chancellor Timothy White has had during his first year as he shared his vision for the campus’ growth.”

Some of the major gifts included in the total were:
• The $1.3 million estate of Bettie Furuta and Tokuji Furuta to study the control and eradication of insects and diseases relating to natural plants.
• A $1 million endowment from the Bernard Osher Foundation to support re-entry scholarships
• $400,000 from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute for research in biomedical sciences.
• $300,000 from Arthur Riggs for facilities improvement at the Sweeney Granite mountains Desert Research Center
• $137,000 in a bequest from the estate of Milton Stratford to the Charles Sherman Hoyt Jr. Memorial Scholarship.

In addition, some of the new pledges UCR received in the 2008–2009 fiscal year were:
• $100,000 from David and Nina Mitchell to establish the father-daughter Scott and Jennifer Alden Scholarship for an undergraduate student from Riverside’s Poly High School.
• $75,000 from Nicholas H. Goldware for the refurbishment of the athletic practice center.

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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