The Campanile at twilight; photo by Keegan Houser
Even in the midst of uncertainty, one thing remains clear: When we leverage the power of Berkeley’s extraordinary research enterprise and talented faculty, students, and staff, lives are changed for the better. The remarkable success of the Light the Way Campaign, which closed in December 2023, reflects the preeminence of our university and its ongoing relevance in our changing world. On this site, during the campaign and after, we shared stories about gifts made by alums and friends who are inspired by the power and potential of Berkeley and partnered with us in sharing its light. Here are some of the highlights of our year in philanthropic storytelling:
At the festive closing celebration for Light the Way, we announced a gift that honors the legacy of Chancellor Emerita Carol T. Christ and facilitates research for the coming generations of Berkeley students. Nadine Tang M.S.W. ’75, a dedicated campus partner and friend to Chancellor Christ for many years, provided a generous capstone commitment to create the Carol T. Christ Center for Connected Learning at Moffitt Library.
While one anonymous donor made the gift that will transform Cal Golf, the investment represents a team effort — a groundswell of support from a longstanding community of Berkeley golfers and golf fans. The $23 million commitment, the largest endowment in Cal Athletics history, will fully endow the men’s and women’s teams and provide them with a new, world-class training facility.
Through his philanthropy at Berkeley and elsewhere, Jon Stryker M. Arch. ’89 has expressed his dedication to bringing design to the service of the public good. This year, the College of Environmental Design celebrated a new gift from Stryker that sustains and deepens the impact of the Arcus Social Justice Fellows program. In addition to other benefits, Arcus Fellows now receive full tuition coverage, which smooths their paths to human-centered careers in urban planning and design.
A generous gift from Margaret and Matt ’79 Jacobson strengthens fellowship and writing programs associated with the Townsend Center for Humanities, which facilitates cross-disciplinary research. The gift honors the center’s founder, the late Paul Alpers, a celebrated teacher and scholar known both for the depth of his knowledge of literature and his openness to other cultures and disciplines. Alpers was a colleague of Matt Jacobson’s father Norman, a professor of political science who was also known for making connections across disciplines.
This is just a small sample of the philanthropic commitments made in 2024 that keep UC Berkeley strong and vital. As we look to the future, we reflect with deep gratitude for our robust and thriving community of scholars, makers, and doers.
