Achieving a Brilliant Future

UC Irvine celebrated the successful close of its Brilliant Future campaign on Saturday, Oct. 4 - coinciding with the university's 60^th anniversary. Surpassing its $2 billion goal by almost half a billion dollars, the largest philanthropic campaign in Orange County history marks a transformative moment for the university and its future.

At a time when traditional funding sources are dwindling, the Brilliant Future campaign has demonstrated the power of private philanthropy in driving top-tier research, fostering academic excellence and advancing human progress. The campaign's success was fueled by a groundswell of support from more than 122,000 donors, capped by one extraordinary, last-minute commitment aimed at advancing groundbreaking Alzheimer's research and care. This final gift of the multiyear effort ultimately pushed UC Irvine over $2.4 billion.

"The success of the Brilliant Future campaign is a powerful reminder that when a community comes together with a shared vision, anything is possible," says Chancellor Howard Gillman. "Our donors are not just supporters - they are partners in progress. Their generosity has transformed UC Irvine and our community and will continue to shape lives, advance knowledge and serve society for generations to come."

Launched publicly in 2019, just months before the COVID-19 pandemic, the campaign overcame historic challenges to record some of UC Irvine's highest fundraising years ever. It reached its $2 billion target nine months early and exceeded goals for alumni engagement.

Gary Singer '74, chair of the UC Irvine Foundation board of trustees - the first alumnus to fill that role - takes great pride in how the Brilliant Future campaign re-energized alumni involvement.

"This campaign is about more than just numbers. It's also about reconnecting with our roots and strengthening our community," Singer says. "Seeing over 93,000 alumni step up to support and engage with UC Irvine has been nothing short of inspiring. We're not just ensuring the success of a university. We're building a lifelong network of Anteaters committed to making a difference."

Campaign highlights

• $2.4 billion raised, with 73 percent of gifts $100 or less
• 122,000+ donors, 84% percent giving for the first time
• 93,000+ alumni engaged through philanthropy, mentorship and events, exceeding the campaign's target of 75,000
• Nearly 85,000 gifts made to support students, resulting in 269 new scholarship, fellowship and award funds that are, in general, available to students each year
• Over $1.7 billion for research and departmental support
• Six new buildings created, with more in development, thanks to philanthropy
• 111 percent growth of alumni chapters and networks worldwide
  
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"Every number in this campaign tells a story," says co-chair Sheila Peterson. "A student who can now afford to pursue their dream. A breakthrough in medical research. A work of art that will inspire generations. That's the real impact - and it's all made possible by our incredible donors."

Her husband and Brilliant Future co-chair, Jimmy Peterson, added: "The four pillars of this campaign reflect the best of what UC Irvine stands for - opportunity, health, discovery and understanding. We're proud to have helped support initiatives that are not just changing this campus but changing the world."

Donors played a critical role in strengthening those four pillars:

Advancing the American dream

UC Irvine is committed to student success regardless of financial background. Donor support has empowered thousands of students through scholarships, fellowships and award programs.

• Paul Butterworth '74, M.S. '81, and Jo Butterworth '75 made the largest alumni gift in UC Irvine's history: a $35.5 million pledge to assist students in the Donald Bren School of Information & Computer Sciences. Reflecting on his own journey, Paul Butterworth shared, "I was considering not going to the university unless I received financial aid because I didn't have any money. But when UC Irvine came through with a package to help out, that made all the difference in the world. This is what inspired us to pledge support for students - so they can follow their dreams despite their financial situations."
• John Tracy, Ph.D. '87, former Boeing chief technology officer, initiated scholarships for underrepresented STEM students.
• Mark and Kathleen Santora created the Student Excellence Fund to provide various resources for student to fulfill their potential.
• Sheila Peterson and others supported the Medici Circle, empowering emerging artists.
  
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Beyond financial aid, donors have also opened doors to leadership, mentorship and career opportunities:

• Stacey Nicholas endowed and renamed a student outreach office in the Samueli School of Engineering, providing leadership training, mentorship, professional development and other services.
• A generous gift enabled the Michael G. Ermer Pro Bono Program at the School of Law to continue giving students practical legal experience in the service of their communities.

Transforming healthcare and wellness

UC Irvine is revolutionizing healthcare through interdisciplinary innovation and community-focused care.

• A major milestone in the campaign was the creation of the Susan & Henry Samueli College of Health Sciences, made possible by a $200 million gift - the largest in the university's history - from Susan and Henry Samueli. A first-of-its-kind college focused on integrative health, this paradigm-shifting initiative brought together the School of Medicine; the Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing, supported by a donation from Sue and Bill Gross; the School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences; and the recently named Joe C. Wen School of Population & Public Health, facilitated by a gift from Joe C. Wen and his family, under a single vision: to treat the whole person, not just the illness. At the heart of the college is the Susan Samueli Integrative Health Institute. The college champions interdisciplinary education and patient-centered care, preparing the next generation of healthcare providers to integrate scientific innovation with compassionate treatment.
• One of the most transformative outcomes of the campaign has been the development and expansion of the UCI Health - Irvine medical complex. New facilities at the site, including the Joe C. Wen & Family Center for Advanced Care and the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, offer patients leading-edge, specialized treatments as well as expanded access to clinical trials and experts. By the end of 2026, UCI Health will have become the largest provider in Orange County and one of the largest health systems in California.
• Gifts from Adeline and Robert Mah will enable the Falling Leaves Foundation Medical Innovation Building to foster medical breakthroughs and facilitate interdisciplinary research.
• Public health advances were bolstered by the Irvine Health Foundation's creation of seven endowed chairs.
• David Lieu, M.D. '79, and Diana Lieu '79 established the university's first full-ride medical school scholarship.
• The Clemons family's support for cancer research and the new UCI Health - Irvine medical complex helped UC Irvine remain distinct in the region as an institution that doesn't just practice medicine but creates it too.
  
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Exploring the human experience

Donor generosity has expanded UC Irvine's leadership in arts, culture and global understanding.

• A naming gift from Jack and Shanaz Langson created the vision for a world-class art museum and institute that will house two transformative donations of California impressionist and modern art. The collections from the Irvine family and the Buck family have helped to position the newly named UC Irvine Langson Orange County Museum of Art as a world-class art museum.
• A significant donation enabled the Alec Glasser Center for the Power of Music and Social Change to continue exploring music's role in empowering communities, raising awareness, healing wounds and advancing education.
• Donors established key chairs in the art history and archaeology of ancient Iran, Zoroastrian studies and Jain studies. These positions deepen cultural understanding and promote global perspectives across campus.
• Fellowships in peacebuilding and social impact, such as the Kugelman Fellowships and Christian Werner Fellowships, empowered students to drive societal change.
• Continued gifts from alumna Mary Watson-Bruce, Ph.D. '82, have endowed a fund that supports history students' doctoral dissertation research.
  
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Accelerating world-changing research

UC Irvine's commitment to transformative research has been powered by philanthropic support.

• Charlie Dunlop's historic gift renamed the School of Biological Sciences and is accelerating biotechnology research.
• The Noel Drury, M.D. Institute for Translational Depression Discoveries is advancing treatments for depression, thanks to an innovative gift from the late Audrey Steele Burnand.
• Support from the late Roy Eddleman has boosted UC Irvine's leadership in quantum science.
• A $50 million gift from Susan and Henry Samueli created three multidisciplinary Engineering+ research institutes that blend engineering with healthcare and AI to solve real-world challenges.
• Stacey Nicholas pledged $3 million to expand environmental education initiatives in the School of Education.
• A $30 million gift from the Samueli Foundation helped create the Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Building, which fosters collaborative research across fields.
• Philanthropic giving by the Beall family is empowering Beall Applied Innovation to move university knowledge and discoveries into products and markets.
• A $15 million gift from the Brunson Foundation, led by James and Cynthia DeBoard, will advance research to develop new treatments for blinding diseases.
  
  Explore stories of groundbreaking research and innovation. ➝

These examples of donor impact only begin to tell the story. In every corner of campus, philanthropic support shapes lives, transforms futures and redefines what's possible.

And to top it off …

The campaign's grand finale included an unforgettable moment: a $50 million commitment from the Quilter family - including alumni Charles Quilter, M.A. '06, Ph.D. '10 and Ann Quilter, M.S. '79, along with their family members Matt, Patty, Chris and Patrick - to support the priorities of UCI MIND, the university's internationally renowned institute dedicated to advancing the understanding, diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.

This transformational gift will strengthen collaboration between researchers and clinicians to accelerate discoveries from bench to bedside, expand education and training for the next generation of experts, and deepen community outreach to families and caregivers. It not only pushed UC Irvine past $2.4 billion but also solidified the university's role as a leader in confronting one of the greatest public health challenges of our time.

What's next for UC Irvine?

"As we look to the future, the need for philanthropic investment is more critical than ever. The Brilliant Future campaign laid a foundation - but the challenges ahead require even more bold thinking and generosity," says Brian T. Hervey, vice chancellor for university advancement and alumni relations and president of the UC Irvine Foundation. "Together, we can ensure that UC Irvine remains a place where excellence and impact thrive."

These priorities will lead the way:

• Supporting faculty research excellence: investing in infrastructure, seed funding and collaborative opportunities to advance pioneering discoveries
• Student success: expanding scholarships, fellowships and programs to ensure access and achievement
• Local and global solutions: leading advancements in climate research, artificial intelligence, health and beyond
• Elevating arts and culture: supporting the museum and other community-enhancing initiatives

From laboratories to lecture halls, galleries to hospitals, stories of donor impact are unfolding every day at UC Irvine. The Brilliant Future campaign has set the stage for lasting transformation - and it's only the beginning.