Gifts in the form of bequests to the University of California, Davis, reached a record high of slightly more than $4 million in fiscal year 1993-94, an increase of 63 percent over the previous year, while total gifts to UC Davis came to $29.8 million. The total represents a decrease of 23 percent from 1992-93, reflecting the impact of a $6.7 million gift the year before, according to annual figures from the campus development office. Since 1984, the campus has doubled the amount of money it raises per year, and cumulatively has raised more than $160 million over the past five years. Faculty raised 35 percent ($10.3 million) of these funds for research. Gifts also went toward student support, 18 percent; departmental support, 12 percent; and instruction and campus improvement -- both at 7 percent. "We are proud of the support we have received this year, especially in light of the prolonged recession in California and the sluggish economy," said Virginia Kelsch, associate vice chancellor for university relations and chief development officer. "And we're looking forward to a record-setting year in 1994-95." Students First Campaign Students were big winners in 1993-94. Gifts targeted for student support more than doubled, from $2.5 million in 1992-93 to $5.2 million in 1993-94. This increase reflects the impact of the campuswide Students First campaign to raise $15.35 million for student financial support. "Thanks to our donors, UC Davis is responding to a growing need of students and their families," said campaign co-chair Ken Nitzberg. "With these funds, the campus can offer more financial aid through scholarships and fellowships so students can avoid increasing their debtload." Endowed Chairs The campus gained the largest number of endowed chairs ever in one year during 1993-94. Endowed chairs provide a permanent source of money to support research and scholarly endeavors. Faculty appointed to these prestigious positions are paid by the state, but proceeds from the endowments provide funds for research, graduate students, laboratory expenses and travel. "Endowed chairs allow us to attract and retain the best faculty we possibly can," said Chancellor Larry N. Vanderhoef. "They are especially important now that we are developing recruitment packages to fill some of those positions left vacant by the early retirement process." Four endowed chairs were established throughout the campus: the John P. Hughes Chair in Equine Reproduction (School of Veterinary Medicine); the John E. Kinsella Chair in Food, Nutrition and Health (College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences); the Emanuel Ringelblum Chair in Jewish History (College of Letters and Science); and the D. Barton DeLoach Chair (Department of Agricultural Economics). Planned Gifts Bequests -- planned gifts that donors have designated in their wills -- are a growing source of gifts for the campus, as illustrated by their 63 percent increase this past year. The university is reaping the benefits of a comprehensive and sophisticated planned-giving program, according to Robert O. Fort, chair of the Legacy Committee for the UC Davis Medical Center and member of the UC Davis Foundation Board of Trustees. "Many donors realize the great personal satisfaction of giving to higher education while lessening their tax burden," explained Dr. Julita Fong, chair of the Planned Giving Committee of the UC Davis Foundation. Schools and Colleges The School of Law and the College of Letters and Science both saw tremendous increases in giving levels from the previous year: 46 percent and 34 percent, respectively. "This year's success indicates that the College of Letters and Science can and will be successful in augmenting its resources through private gifts," said Carol Tomlinson-Keasey, dean of Letters and Science. "Our success also sets the stage for a college campaign focused on endowed chairs, which will help us to bring outstanding faculty to the university and fulfill our promise to give our students a world-class education." The College of Engineering had a banner year, reaching its Silver Anniversary fund-raising goal of $25 million two years early. Consequently, the college's goal has been raised to $30 million by December 1995. Corporate sponsors such as Hewlett-Packard, Intel Corp., Lockheed Missiles & Space Co., TRW and Rockwell International have been significant contributors to this campaign. Total donations to the nine-campus University of California system came to $459.3 million in 1993-94, the second highest amount ever.