In My Opinion: Philanthropy is a Community Foundation
"What inspires such generosity? While each donor has individual reasons for giving, there are a few common reasons that stand out."
Fall 2007 Pacific Review
By Donald V. DeRosa
One of the most satisfying roles I perform as University president is that of building and stewarding lifelong relationships between Pacific and its students, alumni and friends. These relationships form a foundation upon which current and future support of the University is built, and such support is the basis of significant progress in many areas. The generosity of our alumni, Regents, friends, parents, faculty and staff is the lever which over many years has lifted the University from good to great, and from great to greater.
Colleges and universities would not survive or flourish without various forms of philanthropy from foundations, corporations and individuals. It's a good thing then, that statistics show Americans are generous givers. According to a recent report by the Giving USA Foundation at Indiana University's Center on Philanthropy, Americans gave $295 billion in 2006, of which 13.9% went to education, including colleges, universities and libraries, second only to giving to religious organizations. And of the nearly $300 billion, 75.6% of the total was from individuals. Adding in funds received through bequests in 2006, individual giving rises to 83.4% of the total.
It should be obvious why relationship building is such an important part of building Pacific for its long-term future. Since 2000, when the University launched its current campaign, Investing in Excellence, over 23,000 University stakeholders have made such an investment, totaling more than $325 million. What inspires such generosity? While each donor has individual reasons for
giving, there are a few common reasons that stand out.
Donors give because they share Pacific's values, creating responsible leaders for career and civic endeavors. Robert and Ione Monagan, contributing toward scholarships; the Eberhardt family and the Bank of Stockton, supporting the Eberhardt School of Business; Paul Davies and the Lakeside Foundation, advancing construction of the new Biological Sciences Center; and Hayne and Susan Moyer's support of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law, are prime examples that come to mind.
Donors give because they admire the University and its people. I'm reminded of the many Dental School alumni that have given in honor of Dean Emeritus Art Dugoni; of the late Joan Darrah, who gave in honor of her friend Judy Chambers; and of Jim Bancroft, the Denny LeVett family and Gordon and Anne Zuckerman, who have given in honor of Dave and Iola Brubeck.
Donors give because they want to share something with the community. I can't think of better examples than the Spanos family and their gifts to Athletics and the Conservatory, and Bud Klein and his family and their contributions to create the Klein Family Field.
Donors give because they trust the University and know that their gifts will accomplish something important. Examples include John and Elaine Chambers, in support of construction of a new tech center; Dave and Laraine Gerber, for the Gerber Lecture Series in International Studies; the Thomas J. Long Foundation for the Health Sciences Learning Center; Jim and Carolyn Pride, for the Dugoni School; Alex and Jeri Vereschagin, giving alumni a permanent home through an Alumni House; the Baun family, which has supported the School of Engineering and Computer Science; Pete and Alexandra Ottesen, supporting scholarships and an endowed professorship for the Benerd School of Education; and Robert and Jeannette Powell, whose leadership gift made this spring will support scholarships and academic programs.
As we close our Investing in Excellence campaign in October, we are already creating the next set of goals that will make Pacific the West's most distinctive student-centered national university. It is not the gifts, but the individuals behind each gift, that have made the University the extraordinary institution it is today. They are the foundation of our future.
