The number of both gifts and donors for UC Davis grew in1996-97, generating a fund-raising total of over $44 million.This rise in private philanthropy also showed in the campus'sendowment, which increased by $10.7 million in new gifts andreported 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 steadygrowth for all areas of the campus. Looking back to 1995-96,the campus was on track to raise $42.6 million. The additionof the largest corporate gift in campus history -- a donationof software and licenses worth $17.4 million from MentorGraphics -- boosted the gifts total to an exceptional $60million."Thanks to the support of the many individuals, corporationsand foundations who have contributed to the campus, UC Davishas experienced a steady growth in the permanent endowment socrucial to the fulfillment of our strategic goals," saidChancellor Larry N. Vanderhoef.Student scholarships. Endowed chairs and professorships.Medical research. These are just some of the areas thatprivate giving impacted in 1996-97. For more details, seehttp://www-news.ucdavis.edu/PubComm/.