The number of both gifts and donors for the University of California, Davis, grew in 1996-97, generating a fund-raising total of over $44 million. This rise in private philanthropy also showed in the campus's endowment, which increased by $10.7 million in new gifts and reported a total return of 24.2 percent. At the end of June, the UC Davis endowment assets were valued at $223,495,740. This year's fund-raising total continues a pattern of steady growth for all areas of the campus. Looking back to 1995-96, the campus was on track to raise $42.6 million. The addition of the largest corporate gift in campus history -- a donation of software and licenses worth $17.4 million from Mentor Graphics to the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering -- boosted the gifts total to an exceptional $60 million. "Thanks to the support of the many individuals, corporations and foundations who have contributed to the campus, UC Davis has experienced a steady growth in the permanent endowment so crucial to the fulfillment of our strategic goals," said Chancellor Larry N. Vanderhoef. Student scholarships. Endowed chairs and professorships. Medical research. These are just some of the areas that private giving impacted in 1996-97. Thanks to donor planning, the campus realized bequests totaling nearly $6.2 million -- up from last year's total of $1.8 million. The top gift for 1996-97 was $2.8 million from the estate of Pearl Stamps Stewart. The bequest endowed both a chair and professorship in surgery at the School of Medicine. Second was a $659,000 bequest from the estate of Helen Bailey to support student scholarships in the School of Veterinary Medicine. The College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences had the top fund-raising total with over $11 million in gifts. At 25 percent, this represented the highest percentage of total funds raised among the schools and colleges. Two college programs in particular, the departments of entomology and nutrition, raised over $1 million each. Over 1,000 additional donors supported the School of Veterinary Medicine, nearly doubling the total dollars raised for a record $9.4 million. Student support was further enhanced by the Foster family, owners of Foster Farms poultry producers, with their establishment of a $1 million-plus scholarship program to benefit students pursuing agriculture-related careers. Funds were distributed to veterinary and agricultural schools and programs at four California universities, including UC Davis. "We are honored to have the names of Max and Verda Foster so prominently associated with our scholarship program," said Dean Bennie Osburn. "The Foster family is a recognized leader in California agricultural production. This scholarship fund also makes them a leading supporter of veterinary and agricultural education in the state." The School of Medicine had a 32 percent jump in private support to more than $9.9 million due to contributions from Pearl Stamps Stewart, and other supporters such as Dr. Clermont and Mrs. Ellen Powell. The Powells made a gift of property to the UC Davis Foundation to support research conducted in hematology and oncology by their son, Dr. Jerry S. Powell. The Division of Biological Sciences saw a 42 percent increase over last year, with $1.2 million raised. Included in the total is a new fund to honor Luc Bossuyt, former technology director for Bristol-Myers Squibb, who was tragically killed in the TWA Flight 800 explosion off Long Island. Matching endowments of $25,000 each from Bristol-Myers Squibb and Bossuyt's family will support international travel to scientific meetings for selected structural biology graduate students. "Money for academic travel for graduate students is extremely limited," says Dean Mark McNamee. "This fund will enable outstanding students to attend key presentations and to present their own research findings to an international audience, both of which are enormously valuable experiences for a young scientist." The School of Law registered the highest percentage of alumni donations at 65 percent. "The rate of alumni giving at the School of Law has been unusually high, especially for a school that has yet to graduate its 30th class," said Dean Bruce Wolk. "This is attributable in large part to the King Hall spirit, a strong sense of community that links students to the faculty and the staff, and to each other, from the moment they enter King Hall. Alumni stay connected to the school, not just as donors, but also as mentors to our graduates and even as adjunct faculty." Gifts to the university from non-alumni individuals increased by 33 percent from last year, comprising 24 percent and over $10 million. These gifts from parents, faculty, staff, UC Davis Medical Center patients, owners of veterinary patients and other friends of the campus reflect people's appreciation for the university's many contributions to their lives, according to Interim Vice Chancellor Gina Kelsch. Contributions from foundations rose 171 percent from the prior year to more than $6 million, including a grant of $525,000 from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to the College of Engineering and the Division of Mathematical and Physical Sciences. The grant will be used to create a model program to promote the success of women undergraduate and graduate students in engineering, mathematics and the sciences. "The Sloan grant is allowing us to build on and innovatively augment programs that the college's highly successful Center for Women in Engineering has pioneered, and to incorporate those programs into math and the physical sciences, where women face challenges similar to those experienced by women in engineering. We believe these new and expanded strategies and activities will attract more women to these fields and ensure their continued academic and professional development," said Dean Alan J. Laub.